Parys studied law at the
University of Namur,
KU Leuven, followed by
Stellenbosch University in South Africa and the
New York University School of Law. He then worked for a legal company in New York City. After returning to Belgium, he started his political career with the
Open VLD and was in second place on the Open VLD list for the House of Representatives in the 2010 elections, but was not elected. In December 2013, he switched parties to the N-VA. In the
2019 Belgian regional elections, he was elected on the N-VA's list to the
Flemish Parliament representing the Flemish Brabant constituency. In parliament, he has focused on policy related to the
COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he was elected vice-chairman of the N-VA along with
Valerie Van Peel but later stepped down from the role and suspended political duties after accepting a job in the private sector. == References ==