As hitherto attempts to form a new municipal coalition in the West Flemish coastal municipality of Blankenberge had failed, it was left to councillors to elect aldermen directly by secret ballot. Blankenberge is one of three municipalities in Flanders where the municipal cabinet had to be elected in this way. Björn Prasse of the local list Team Blankenberge will stay on as Mayor. In addition to this Team Blankenberge will also have 1 Alderman. According to the local government bill that took effect prior to the local elections the largest party with at least 1 alderman also provides the mayor.
A first: municipal cabinet chosen by secret ballot of councilors in Blankenberge
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There had been stalemate in Blankenberge since the municipal elections. Neither the front formed by Team Blankenberge (8 seats) and the socialist party Vooruit (4 seats) not the front formed by the Flemish nationalist party N-VA (8 seats) and the Christian democrats (4 seats) were able to form a majority. A third party was needed in order to do this. However, no one wishes to form a coalition with the far-right Vlaams Belang (3 seats).
Electoral law in Flanders states that if no coalition agreement is reached by the time that the newly elected municipal council meets for the first time, it is up to councilors to directly elect the aldermen. Each party had to put forward a candidate for each post as Alderman. A secret ballot was then held each post.
An absolute majority (in this case at least 14 votes) was required. If this were not the case a second round of voting was required. 5 Aldermen were appointed. Team Blankenberge has 1, N-VA 2, the Christian democrats 1 and the socialists 1. As the first candidate on the list of the largest party with at least one Alderman Björn Prasse of Team Blankenberge will remain Mayor for another 6 years.