Spirit of openness
The new mayor Étienne Chalon – who prefers to be called “bourgmestre” – wanted to pay tribute to “his 20 wonderful running mates, his wife Annick, his children Sophie and Matthieu always present at his side, the encouragement of his six brothers and sisters (four of whom were present in the municipal council room), his friends and also his two supporters to four legs, Serpico and Mulato”.
Étienne Chalon added that he never had a career plan in politics, “after five elections crowned with as many successes as failures”.
The new mayor of Virton insists on the new spirit that he wants to put in place within the council: “We want another policy, marked by respect and listening, and openness. This is what our population also wants, which has suffered enough from our political bickering.”
Inspired by a phrase from the new alderman Pascal Massart according to which “A good idea is still a good idea, wherever it comes from.”Chalon affirms that he will listen carefully to the proposals coming from the new minority.
Wauthoz criticizes Chalon
Speak to the new minority now. To tease the Citoyens majority, Nathalie Van de Woestyne (IC) recalled that during the formation of the previous majority in 2018, the Citoyens group had made fun of the socialists (Ensemble Otherwise), by publishing that the latter “crawled in front of the IC-Ecolo alliance to grab a few crumbs. You added that the Citizens movement could not be bought! You are therefore in total contradiction, in 2024, by going to buy a PS seat to confirm your majority! “, says Nathalie Van de Woestyne.
But the most virulent criticism on Monday came from the outgoing mayor, Vincent Wauthoz. At the start of the session, he paid a heartfelt, and even moving, tribute to all the services of the municipal administration. And to highlight the positive results of the restoration of municipal finances, the work on the Grand-Place or the renovation of the water network.
On the other hand, Vincent Wauthoz underlined, “to tease the Citizens”, “the low female representation in the new Citizens group with only 5 female representatives out of 13”. And justifying the negative vote of the IC group in relation to the majority pact, Vincent Wauthoz said:worried by the personality of the new leader of the Commune”which would not guarantee respect for female staff in the context of well-being at work. Mr. Wauthoz was referring to a tense exchange, dating back several months, that Mr. Chalon had with a municipal agent.
The new mayor did not wish to react. But this intervention by Vincent Wauthoz on Monday was clearly not appreciated by the public, who came mainly to congratulate the new elected officials.
