Paul Joseph, Count de Smet de Naeyer (13 May 1843[1] – 9 September 1913[2]) was a Belgian Catholic Party politician.

He was head of the Société Générale de Belgique and the owner of several coal mines.

[4] He served in several governments, as Minister of Finance from 1894 to 1896, and again from 1899 to 1907, combining the portfolio with the Ministry of Public Works.

He was a strong supporter and personal friend of Leopold II of Belgium, blocking efforts to investigate atrocities in the Congo Free State.

[5] He was also a proponent of annexing the state in 1900, prior to it becoming Belgian Congo.