Mark Demesmaeker (Dutch: [mɑr(ə)ɡ dəˈmɛsmaːkər]; born 12 September 1958) is a Belgian TV journalist, newsreader and politician, affiliated to the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA).
Demesmaeker was born in Halle, Flemish Brabant, and originally trained as a teacher, teaching the subjects Dutch, English and History.
Following the resignation of Frieda Brepoels, who was elected to the post of mayor in Bilzen, Mark Demesmaeker joined the European Parliament as N-VA MEP in February 2013.
In May 2015, Demesmaeker was placed on Vladimir Putin's black list of “undesirables” on Russian territory, rendering travel to Russia impossible under the present regime, due to his support of Ukraine's role in the War in Donbass.
In August 2015, Demesmaeker was decorated with the Order of Merit, III Class[3] by the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, for his 'important contribution to strengthening the international authority of the Ukrainian state'.