The far-right party Vlaams Belang and the local list nu2960 that went to the polls with candidates from the Christian democrat (CD&V), liberal (Open VLD) and socialist (Vooruit) parties as well as local independent Christian democrats have signed a municipal coalition agreement in Brecht, in Antwerp Province.
The news that the “cordon sanitair”, an agreement between the parties not to enter into coalitions with parties of the far-right, has been breached was announced on Tuesday morning. Brecht is the second municipality (after Ranst) in which Vlaams Belang has joined a municipal coalition. In Ninove (East Flanders), the local branch of the party that stood as Forza Ninove, has an absolute majority. In Izegem (West Flanders) a coalition agreement between a local list and Vlaams Belang fell through at the 11th hour after some members of the local list claimed that they had been intimidated by those against far-right participation in the municipal cabinet.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning the future Mayor of Brecht Frans Van Looveren (nu2960) said that "During the past 6 weeks we have done all we can to reach as good an agreement as possible for the people of Brecht”. With 15 of the 31 seats on the local council nu2960, a list made up of candidates from the Christian democrat, liberal and socialist parties as well as local independent Christian democrats, was the largest party after the local elections on 13 October.
Initially nu2960 held talks with the Flemish nationalists (N-VA), the party that came second with 10 seats. However, these talks reached a dead end. Then N-VA was given 14 days to try and form a coalition, here too without success. It was then up to the 3rd largest party Vlaams Belang Brecht (6 seats) to try and form a coalition. Now, 6 weeks after the municipal elections, a coalition has been formed. The coalition made up of nu2960 and Vlaams Belang Brecht will have 21 of the 31 council seats.
Expelled from the party
The Flemish Christian democrat party CD&V has said in a statement that any party members that enter into a coalition with Vlaams Belang, including future Mayor Frans Van Looveren, will be expelled from the party. The Flemish liberal party Open VLD plans to do the same but will first examine whether any of its members were involved in negotiating the municipal coalition agreement.