Filip Dewinter (born Philip Michel Frans Dewinter on September 11, 1962, in Antwerp, Belgium) is a Belgian politician, journalist, and commentator. He co-founded the Vlaams Blok in 1978, which later evolved into Vlaams Belang in 2004 following a court ruling that deemed the former party racist. As a co-founder and leading figure in Vlaams Belang, a far-right Flemish nationalist and separatist party, he is known for his anti-Islam and anti-immigration rhetoric. He has been a vocal opponent of immigration, multiculturalism, and what he terms the 'Islamization' of Europe, advocating for strict border controls and Flemish independence from Belgium. He studied law at the University of Antwerp but did not complete his degree. His political career includes serving as a member of the Antwerp City Council since 1987 and as a member of the Flemish Parliament from 1995 to 2004 and again from 2009 onward. He has held positions such as the party's floor leader and has been involved in international far-right networks. His rhetoric has often sparked controversy, leading to legal challenges, including a 2008 conviction for incitement to hatred against Moroccans. Dewinter has also worked as a journalist and occasional actor. Throughout his career, he has faced accusations of racism and extremism, and despite electoral successes, his party has been largely excluded from coalition governments. He remains an active politician in Antwerp, continuing to shape Flemish nationalist discourse.