Morel's story is unusual in many respects. For one thing, she is very open about her imminent death. One can read about it almost daily in the popular press and all over the internet. "Dying on stage" De Morgen called this. It has inflated her popularity far beyond where it was as a politician.

That Morel should be given such a forum stands at odds with the way other politicians belonging to her party are treated. Members of the extreme right Vlaams Belang are rarely given the opportunity to talk about their private lives. Morel is different though. Her story is just too good not to be published.

Still, Morel doesn't only have admirers. The Muslim organisation Sharia4Belgium recently got itself noticed when it claimed Allah was punishing her for her political views. Less laughable was Bart De Bie, an intimate of Vlaams Belang strong man Filip Dewinter, who wrote: "Put the champagne in the fridge!" on Facebook after news broke of Morel's imminent death. The remark was so callous, even for the party Morel fell out with, that De Bie was promptly fired.

Morel was introduced to politics by a former college friend, N-VA's Bart De Wever. After she failed to get elected, Morel left De Wever's party for the then much larger Vlaams Belang. Within Vlaams Belang, Morel soon formed a special alliance with party president Frank Vanhecke, giving her disproportionate power.

The duo (who vehemently denied they were a couple) fell out of grace with the rest of the party leadership. This led to a power struggle, which ended with Morel and Vanhecke leaving Vlaams Belang. Morel was not done with the party, though. Even now, she still sneers at anyone who has stood in her way before. In these circumstances, Vlaams Belang finds it hard to battle with Morel, who has been transformed from an eternal troublemaker into a saint in the public's eye.

Morel's recent marriage to Vanhecke, the man with whom she always denied having a relationship, is just another odd twist in this story. One can only wish them happiness and strength in the days to come.