In Ghent, negotiators representing ecologist Groen and the Voor Gent city list – an alliance of Vooruit socialists and Open VLD liberals - have struck a deal to administer the East Flemish capital for a further six years. Mayor Mathias De Clercq (liberal) stays on as burgomaster.
On Monday, Armistice Day, all eyes were on the local liberal branch in Ghent that had to approve the agreement. In the event Open VLD narrowly approved the coalition with Groen.
53 per cent of liberals voted in favour of the agreement between the social-liberal city list Voor Gent and ecologist Groen. This means Mathias De Clercq can again become mayor with a majority of 33 out of 53 seats on Ghent city council. The Christian democrats, who were in the city cabinet, now head for the opposition benches.
There was nervousness about the vote because the city list had previously proposed an agreement with Flemish nationalist N-VA, which was eventually rejected by the members of socialist Vooruit. That agreement with N-VA did receive considerable support from the liberal rank and file, who had approved it by 97.5 per cent. That support was a lot more limited last night: with 53 per cent of the vote, it narrowly got the green light.
‘A lot of work to do’
Mayor De Clercq has high hopes of a fresh start, even if some people remain in post. We have an effective city cabinet, a powerful team that wants to govern in confidence, to stop polarisation and bring the people of Ghent closer together and move forward.’
Members of socialist Vooruit approved the agreement between Voor Gent and ecologist Groen with 93 per cent of the votes. At Groen, even 98 per cent of members were in favour.