Government appoints new top people from police, defense and State Security

The federal government has appointed new bosses for the federal police, defense and State Security. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced this on Wednesday after a National Security Council meeting.

Traditionally, the government wants to put its stamp on the top appointments in the security services at the end of the legislature. “With these appointments we are making important choices and giving direction to the security landscape,” said Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) after the National Security Council. ‘We talk a lot about the structures in our country and we have many that are concerned with security. Even more important is the leadership of those structures.’

Lieutenant General Frederik Vansina will be the new Chief of Staff of the Army. He succeeds current Chief of Defense (CHOD) Michel Hofman, who has announced that he is no longer seeking a new mandate. Frederik Vansina is the current number two in the Belgian armed forces and was therefore in the top bracket to replace Hofman. Vansina is perfectly bilingual and was the only Air Force candidate among the chiefs of staff candidates. That worked to his advantage, because the two previous chiefs of staff were of the land component and the navy.

Vansina will take up his new position next summer. According to Minister of Defense Ludivine Dedonder (PS), one of his most important tasks is to continue the transformation of the army and grow the organization. “Only by growing can we continue to improve,” she said.

Current interim boss Eric Snoeck will become the new chief of the federal police. The Liège native was temporarily appointed commissioner general last year after his predecessor Marc De Mesmaeker decided not to renew his mandate. Snoeck speaks five languages ​​and has degrees in geography and public management. He previously headed the judicial branch of the police.

Francisca Bostyn will become the new head of State Security, a position she has held ad interim since 2022. Her predecessor Jaak Raes had to take a step back for medical reasons and will officially retire on April 1. The West Flemish woman has a past with the military intelligence service ADIV, NATO and the threat agency OCAD and was the security chief in the cabinets of CD&V prime ministers Herman Van Rompuy and Yves Leterme and former Minister of Justice Koen Geens (CD&V). “A strong intelligence service is not a luxury, but a necessity,” said Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD). ‘State Security is in good hands.’