Bart Somers

Bart Somers (b.Mechelen, 1964) is a Belgian politician. He obtained a law degree from the Catholic University of Leuven. Since 2000 Bart Somers is the Mayor of Mechelen, a city of 86 000 people located between Antwerp and Brussels. He is also the President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Committee of the Regions, as well as a member of the Flemish Parliament, where he is president of the Flemish liberals.

He was awarded the 2016 World Mayor Prize, an award for the World’s Best Mayor, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in welcoming refugees during recent years and for the long-term integration of immigrants from different cultures, religions and social backgrounds.

He was previously the Minister-President of Flanders and national leader of the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats from 2004 till 2009.