Very quickly, in fact, it appeared that the outgoing majority (PS – MR), obtaining the same number of seats as in 2018 (27 out of 49) was “in the running” to extend for six additional years. Even if the socialists have in fact lost a seat (16) to the benefit of the MR (11), the balance of power remains approximately the same… In addition to a PS – PTB majority which would have been a little short (25 seats), the alliance PS – MR is also the only possible bipartisan in Cité ardente.
But that was without counting on the surprise guest of the negotiations: Les Engagés. Like the provincial scenario, it is indeed towards a tripartite that we are heading today in Liège. If nothing has been signed as of this writing, PS, MR and Engagés must meet again this weekend to discuss the skills that each could adopt. The majority would therefore increase to 33 seats out of 49, more comfortable. It must be said that the majority pacts are to be “delivered” for this Monday, November 11. Time is running out… In this aforementioned scenario, only the PTB (9 seats) and Vert Ardent (7) would be relegated to the opposition.
The influence of party presidents
Liège Finance has therefore obviously been (and still is) at the center of all attention in Liège. At issue: this debt which grows every year, mainly because of the accountability contributions which force the municipalities to assume the pensions of former city civil servants (including those not residing in Liège). There are several thousand of them in Liège and this cost amounts to tens of millions of euros each year.
Who will “straighten” the finances from then on? The MR took care of it for six years… he doesn’t want it anymore. No more than the PS which would concede big by integrating Les Engagés (read below). To the Engaged from then on? According to our information, “They don’t want it either.”. But it could be the necessary entry point for a party.”which the majority do not need”. And this, all the more so since the party presidents (MR and Engagés) and certain strong men including Pierre-Yves Jeholet, have their say in these negotiations. Guaranteeing a regional political “echo” by integrating the liberals AND the Committed would be the way… An echo all the more essential as the question of finances is therefore at the center of the negotiations. In other words: a tripartite integrating the two regional partners is take it or leave it if Liège wants to hope to find a solution for its cash flow problems.
Two fewer aldermans for the PS
In this tripartite, this is the great sacrifice to which the socialist party should make: cede two aldermanships. For six years in fact the Municipal College was made up of 7 PS (including the mayor) and 3 MR. On the side of the Engagés, who won six seats on the council, there is no question of running for an aldermanship, the desire being to “do not make up the figure”. There is also no question on the MR side of giving up one of the three aldermanships… even though the party has won a seat on the council (10 to 11).
It is therefore the PS, which lost two seats (if we consider that one of the elected officials on the PS + list is François Schreuer, from Vega), which should give in. This is the variable which has undeniably tensed the Liège socialists and which could further disrupt everything, especially since there are numerous “alderman” candidates here. The outgoing ones: Maggy Yerna, Roland Léonard, Julie Fernandez-Fernandez, Jean-Paul Bonjean, Mehmet Aydogdu… but also the incoming ones (or the new generation): Sarah El Hasnaoui, Célic Duygu… even François Schreuer, to join the Vega movement.
An almost complete cast
In the PS – MR – Engagés scenario, which therefore held the rope this Friday evening, we know that the PS validated 5 candidates. Alongside Willy Demeyer, we would find 4 aldermen: Maggy Yerna, Roland Léonard, Julie Fernandez-Fernandez and Jean-Paul Bonjean, president of the CPAS.
No surprise to the MR since Gilles Foret would be accompanied by his two running mates having made the most votes: Fabrice Drèze and the outgoing alderwoman Élisabeth Fraipont; Diana Nikolic being a Walloon MP, accumulation is therefore not possible.
Two seats remain at the college table for the Engagés: the head of the list Carine Clotuche could take her responsibilities in Liège, accompanied by… An unknown remains here since Benoît Bouchat, second on the list, only obtained the 4th score. Olivier de Wasseige, Walloon MP, is in the same situation as Diana Nikolic. The names of Lucien Bodson (3rd score) and Michel de Lamotte, ex-MP and ex-alderman (of Finance) of the City of Liège are also mentioned.
The countdown is on…
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