Belgian PM's cat Maximus is social media star with 'subliminal political message'

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The Belgian Prime Minister's Feline Social Media Sensation Reveals Subtle Politics Underneath.

Bart De Wever, the prime minister of Belgium, has unleashed his mischievous grey Scottish fold, Maximus, onto social media. The cat's Instagram account now boasts over 142,000 followers, catapulting him to the second most popular political account on the platform in Belgium. While not an official spokesperson for De Wever, Maximus appears to be a carefully curated extension of his owner's image.

De Wever adopted Maximus from a refuge, stating that he loves the cat despite its lack of mouse-catching prowess. The cat's Instagram feed features Maximus lounging on windowsills, chasing toys, and even giving tongue-in-cheek commentary on De Wever's work-life balance. A "grumpy" post featuring Maximus lying flat with his hind legs stretched out reads: 'Even on Sunday, these nuisances [cabinet ministers] are here,' hinting at the feline equivalent of frustration.

Professor Dave Sinardet, a political scientist at the Free University of Brussels, attributes Maximus's popularity to the long-standing tradition of politicians using animals as mascots. "This helps to reinforce De Wever's warmer side," Sinardet noted, suggesting that the account provides an appealing contrast to his public persona.

Sinardet also posits that Maximus has a subtle yet unmistakable message: De Wever working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the country on track. For instance, posts featuring De Wever typing away at night next to Maximus serve as poignant reminders of his dedication.

While some may dismiss Maximus's Instagram account as mere entertainment, Sinardet believes that it plays a positive role in humanizing politics for those who find them unappealing. As one post jokingly has Maximus offering words of encouragement: 'Congratulations, you are a hero!' – a sentiment that resonates with the Belgian public.

Critics of Maximus's account have typically come across as sour and unwelcoming, reinforcing De Wever's image in the process. In contrast, those embracing his feline friend appear to embody a more positive and accepting spirit.

Ultimately, Maximus serves as an enigmatic yet endearing ambassador for De Wever's administration.
 
I'm down with this idea 🐈💬. I mean, it's cool that De Wever has found a way to show his people side through his cat, but at the same time, I think he's kinda trying too hard 😂. Like, yeah, Maximus is cute and all, but some of those posts do feel like they're just trying to be funny or relatable rather than actually saying something meaningful 🤔.

And can we talk about how this whole thing is still a bit weird? I mean, is De Wever's cat really that smart to know when it's time for him to work late at night? 🐈🕰️ It's all just a bit too convenient for me 👀. But hey, if people are enjoying it and finding it humanizing, more power to them 💪!
 
I'm not sure I buy this whole "Maximus is just a cute distraction" vibe. Like, yeah okay, it's a cat, it's funny, but is it really that subtle? Is it just a ploy to soften up the public image of Bart De Wever's government? I mean, come on, 142k followers and nobody's calling BS on this one yet 🤔. And don't even get me started on the whole "humanizing politics" thing... isn't that just a fancy way of saying "we can't be bothered to explain what we're actually doing"? 🙄
 
😒 Maximus is just a distraction from the real issues 🤯 The cat's account may be cute, but it doesn't change the fact that Belgium is still struggling with pension reform and rising energy costs 💸 Meanwhile, politicians like Bart De Wever are more worried about their social media clout than actual governance 📊 What's next? A penguin as Secretary of State? 🐧
 
I THINK IT'S AWESOME HOW BART DE WEVER IS USING MAXIMUS TO SHOW THE HUMAN SIDE OF HIMSELF AND HIS GOVERNMENT! 🤩 IT'S LIKE HE'S SAYING, "HEY, I'M NOT JUST A POLITICIAN, I'M ALSO A GUY WHO LOVES HIS CAT!" 😂 AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S WORKING! PEOPLE LOVE MAXIMUS AND BY EXTENSION, DE WEVER. IT'S LIKE HE'S BROUGHT SOME WARMTH TO THE WORLD OF POLITICS AND THAT'S PRETTY COOL. 💕
 
I think it's so cool how Maximus is bringing people together 🐱💖. As a cat lover myself, I can see why people would fall in love with his adorable face and sassy attitude 😹. It's great that the Belgian PM is using social media to show a more relaxed side of himself, you know, like a normal person who doesn't just give policy speeches all day 🤣.

But what really gets me is how Maximus is humanizing politics for people. I mean, we're always talking about politicians being so stuffy and serious, but here's this cat just chillin' on the couch next to his owner, like "yeah, politics can be weird too" 😴. And those posts of De Wever typing away at night with Maximus? It's like a big ol' hug from a human who's doing their best for everyone 🤗.

I think it's time we start embracing the quirky side of our leaders instead of just focusing on the policy stuff. Maybe then we'll get more people to engage in politics because, let's face it, politicians are often pretty boring 😴💤.
 
I gotta say, this cat is totally on point 🐱💁‍♂️! Like, who wouldn't wanna follow a grumpy cat on Instagram? It's like the purrfect way to humanize a politician - you know, show people that even De Wever isn't all about policy and stuff. Maximus just vibin' with his owner, being cute and funny... it's actually kinda inspiring 🤗. And Sinardet's point about Maximus humanizing politics for those who find them uncool is spot on 🙌. I mean, who wouldn't wanna feel like a hero? But at the same time, it's also interesting to see how this cat account plays into De Wever's overall image... is he trying to show us that even behind the scenes, there's more to him than just politics? 🤔
 
I'm not convinced by this whole Maximus thing... 🤔 I mean, come on 142k followers? That's a lot of cat pics. What's really going on here? Is it just a PR stunt to humanize the PM? And what's with all these "poignant reminders" about De Wever working late nights? We need actual proof, not some cat in a sweater giving us the "tireless worker" vibe 😒

I'm also wondering, how many of these posts are really spontaneous and not scripted for maximum cute factor? I bet Sinardet hasn't fact-checked this stuff. 🤷‍♂️ Anyone got access to De Wever's Instagram DMs to confirm Maximus is really just a chill cat? 🐱📸
 
maximus is literally stealing the show 🤣 i mean, who wouldn't want a hot grey cat taking over social media? but seriously, it's cool how de wever uses him to humanize himself, especially since some ppl might find politics kinda meh 😐. and omg that post about cabinet ministers being "nuisances" is EVERYTHING 🤣 i love how maximus has a sassy side too, like who needs catnip when you have instagram comments? but what's up with the critics being all sour and stuff? can't they just let max be his adorable feline self? 🙄
 
omg i'm dyin over maximus!!! 🤣 Bart de wever is literally the coolest pm ever lol that cat's got more followers than most humans i know and it's all bc he's not trying too hard he's just chillin' on his instagram feed doin whatever maximus wants. i love how prof sinardet says that maximus has a subtle message about bart working hard behind the scenes but like who cares about that when you can just see maximus being adorable 😻 anyway i think maximus is genius bc it humanizes politics and makes ppl less intimidating. Bart de wever needs to keep maximizing his instagram game lol
 
I gotta say, I love how this cat Maximus is stealing the show on social media! It's adorable that Bart De Wever adopted him from a refuge and now he's a part of his team. 🐈💕 The way Maximus gives tongue-in-cheek commentary on politics stuff is hilarious and relatable at the same time.

I think it's genius how this cat is humanizing politicians for people who might not be into that whole politicking thing. It's like, you can't hate a cat, right? 😸 And I love how Maximus has his own little "congratulations, you're a hero" vibe going on – it's all about spreading positivity and good vibes.

As for the critics who are being sour and unwelcoming, yeah, that just makes them look like they need to take a chill pill. 🤯 All in all, Maximus is a win-win in my book. He's bringing people together and putting a smile on their faces – what more could we ask for?
 
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