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The politician was inspired by James Bond and eventually bought a system in China.

MPs do everything they can to avoid becoming the target of aggression or ridicule. N-VA Member of Parliament Michael Freilich even installed a rotating number plate on his car to hide visibility on the road as a Member of Parliament. In his own words, he thinks it is important to use his P number plate only for occasions related to his office.

When they take office in Belgium, members of parliament receive a special number plate, the so-called 'P plate', which does not replace the original number plate, but can be regarded as an additional number plate. It consists of the letter P followed by a number combination. Freilich indicates that it rotating the number plate intends for him to go into traffic unseen as a politician without being checked.

yarmulke

In an interview during rush hour with David on Radio 2 last Monday, the politician let slip that he sometimes gets a middle finger from his fellow road users. Whether it's his number plate or because he regularly wears a yarmulke, a head covering worn by some Jewish men, he leaves in the middle, but does name it. 

"As a solution, I couldn't help thinking of James Bond and his legendary Aston Martin DB5 with rotating number plate."

The Flemish politician eventually bought a system in China with which he can rotate his number plate. The accompanying disclaimer stated that the system was only intended to be used during car shows. So I asked if he could install such a system. As a Member of Parliament, he does not want to use his P-plate during the holidays, for example.

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Soon the idea comes to mind that the politician has something to hide or that the slightest slip-up on the job is publicized on social media. Politicians feel that one of the prestige extras of their job is a P-plate. Yet some prefer not to be seen with it when they do not officially use the car in function. Even a politician does not like to be pilloried on social media. Many politicians prefer the hidden anonymity of the normal license plate. Without the P for Prestige.  

private number plates

Belgian license plates consist of three parts: a two-letter province code, a series of numbers and three letters. The province code indicates in which province the car is registered. The series of numbers and letters serve as a unique identification for the vehicle. License plates can be sold or traded as “private number plates”. 

These license plates are custom-made license plates that are purchased by private individuals. They usually contain personal names, words or abbreviations instead of the usual combination of numbers and letters. These plates are often more expensive than regular plates, but they allow the owner to uniquely identify his or her car. In Belgium, private license plates can be sold and traded through dedicated companies and carriers.

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