But all the same, the balances are being upset at the coast. In some localities more than others. Here are the entities where the mayorate is in the hot seat. Small recap’ of the great coastal duels.
After the big N-VA and Belang wave in June, a salty and tense campaign awaits for the municipal elections: the point by seaside resort (INFOGRAPHIC)
Ostend. Will the queen of the beaches turn socialist? The liberal mayor, Bart Tommelein (Open VLD), appears in an unfortunate position. The socialists feel boosted by the polls and the former president of the SPA John Crombez intends to recover the mayoral chair lost in 2018 by Johan Vande Lanotte. But for that, we will have to perform… and find allies. The liberals have taken Groen and CD&V into their cartel. A configuration which should give the N-VA the role of kingmaker.
Bart Tommelein (Open VLD), mayor of Ostend, is the guest of our Grand Interview: “French-speaking people will always be welcome at the coast”
Knokke. After legislatures of continuity, Knokke was the scene of a political saga in the House of Cards. After the death of Léopold Lippens in 2021, the reins were taken over by Piet De Groote. The storm was not long in coming. Alarming audit on conflicts of interest, real estate relationships deemed dubious, internal quarrels, discord over real estate projects. He was forced to resign, leaving the mayorship to Alderman Jan Morbee. One thing now seems certain: the era of the vast absolute majority in Knokke is over. The old Lippens clan is divided into two lists: one drawn by Piet De Groote, another drawn by Jan Morbee. But facing them a CD&V-NVA bloc, riding on the internal wars of the mayoral camp, intends to put an end to the Lippens era in Knokke.
The Belgian coast may not be the most beautiful, but it is ours
Blankenberge. In 2021, N-VA mayor Daphné Dumery was ejected by the Open-VLD. A rupture whose scar is far from being closed. Dumery is running to take back his scarf by force, which Björn Prasse (Open VLD) intends to keep. Ambitions which will depend on the goodwill of Vooruit and the CD&V, who will undoubtedly have the power to swing the balance on one side or the other in Blankenberge. Municipality where Belang approached 30% in June.
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And the other seaside resorts? HAS KoksijdeMarc Vanden Bussche (Open VLD) leaves, after thirty years as mayor, the sash… that the media N-VA MP Sander Loones argues with alderwoman Stéphanie Anseeuw (Open VLD). HAS UsedMayor Dirk De fauw (CD&V) appears favorite for re-election according to a recent Nieuwsblad poll. RoosterWilfried Vandaele (N-VA), a major figure of the nationalists on the coast, is again a candidate. But nothing is won. In 2018, he came neck and neck with the Bewust list of former liberal mayor Peter Breemersch, also a candidate. What’s more, one of its aldermen created a dissident list. HAS Bredenesocialist stronghold of the coast, Steve Vandenberghe (Vooruit) leaves rather confident with his absolute majority, with the support at the end of the list of Johan Vande Lanotte and an honorable score from Vooruit in June in the commune.
“The sea remains dangerous”: here is the advice from the lifeguards of the Belgian coast…”who are not babysitters” (PHOTOS AND VIDEO)
HAS Middelkerkethe very media and popular mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker finds solid competition on the right, which could hurt his absolute majority: the N-VA presents a list drawn by the former CEO of the SNCB Marc Descheemaecker and the Vlaams Belang has achieved a breakthrough in June (nearly 30%). In addition, Open-VLD, Groen and CD&V also formed an anti-Dedecker cartel, called Respect.
HAS Nieuportthe CD&V has a large absolute majority. But Geert Vanden Broucke (CD&V) frees the mayoral seat, which is contested by his political heir alderman Bert Gunst (CD&V)… and in particular the son of Jean-Marie Dedecker, Dimitri, at the head of a list “Gezond Verstand “.
In Knokke, Lippens’ political legacy threatened by the N-VA and Vlaams Belang
Finally, it is difficult to see clearly in Pannes politics after this tormented legislature and a fleeting overthrow of the majority. The mayor of PanneBram Degrieck (CD&V), bows out. Former mayor Ann Vanheste (Vooruit), big winner of 2018 and yet rejected in the opposition, is also not running. In this town where traditional parties have little influence and where seven lists are presented, the games are more open than ever.
