The news has just broken and it’s a surprise! We knew that the next provincial majority would be made up of the MR and the Engagés. Considering the results of the provincial elections of October 13, – 40.41% for the MR and 24.75% for Les Engagés, we imagined a college made up of three reforming deputies and one Engagé. Finally, Les Engagés will have two provincial deputies during the next 2024-2030 legislature, the same number as the reformers.
Benjamin Goes, the leader of the Engagés will occupy one of the two positions. The current alderman of Beauvechain will be in charge of Culture, Tourism, Youth, Community Life and Mobility. “I’m really happy, he told us. After a legislature where there were only three of us, we continued to work. And then having two deputies like the MR will allow us to have a real balanced project.”
Waterloo resident Maha Karim-Hosselet also becomes a provincial deputy. A newcomer to provincial politics, from civil society and a former member of the MR, she achieved the best score in the west of Walloon Brabant. She will be in charge of Social Policy, Health and Housing.
The Engagés press release further specifies that it will be Ottawa resident Cédric du Monceau who will occupy the position of president of the provincial council. He will be replaced mid-term by Brainois Olivier Vanham.
Cold shower
As for the current president of the provincial college Tanguy Stuckens, this announcement goes down very badly. “I was absolutely unaware, he tells us. This was not what was intended in the agreement. Depending on the forces present, this agreement provides for three deputy positions for the MR and one position for the Engagés as well as the presidency of the provincial council. Under these conditions, the agreement no longer holds and the majority pact will not be signed.”
There is no doubt that discussions will take place internally between all components of the MR to decide on the position to adopt.
