And yet, those who talk about the end of Charles Michel’s reign over Wavre are a little quick to forget that his ambitions took him well beyond the borders of his city – and undoubtedly too far. A thirst for power which led him, despite this local plebiscite, to first be Federal Minister of Cooperation, then party president, Prime Minister and finally President of the European Council. Charles Michel nourishes, even feeds, his international ambition. Without ever being satisfied. On the political level, the era of the Michel family weighed more on Walloon Brabant than on its capital and its 35,000 inhabitants. Charles Michel did not take the time to place his pawns there, or even to ensure his succession. His mind was elsewhere. His perpetual unsatisfaction pushes him to always look towards the upper floor. Suffice to say that the Wavre hotel had not been in his sights for a long time…
Political thunderclap in Wavre: the MR would be sent to the opposition, but Bouchez tries to oppose it
A worn and tired majority
Acting mayor for more than 7 years, Françoise Pigeolet was unable to make her work at the head of the commune bear fruit, or even preserve liberal domination. Under his era, the weight of the Liberal Party melted. Her Mayor’s List only convinced 40% of voters in 2018. Two years ago, weakened by illness, Françoise Pigeolet passed the mayoral sash to her first alderwoman Anne Masson. The personal challenge is immense for this woman of the shadows, of files. Uncomfortable in her public relations, the mayor struggles to seduce. She knows it and regrets it. She does not recognize herself in the image that the inhabitants have of her. His score on Sunday, 1,609 votes, very far from those collected by Charles Michel, gives him little room to bounce back. The majority in place appears worn and tired. It notably lacks proactivity and presence on the ground. “For 12 years, we liberals have lost connection with too many citizens“, recognizes a candidate disappointed to see the Mayor’s List find itself tied at 31% with the Engaged list.
For Les Engagés, Sunday’s score was unexpected, beyond all expectations. Although citizens’ grievances were numerous, known and shared, the prospect of winning the mayorship seemed completely out of reach. Its historic figurehead, Benoît Thoreau, thought he would narrowly impose his party in the majority coalition, by replacing the PS for example. Placed in third place on the Les Engagés list, and with barely 840 votes, here he is at the helm of a sailboat which capsized the liner MR.
The stated ambition of Gilles Agosti
“We must deepen our examination of conscience and dare real introspection,” tells us Gilles Agosti, who won 1,325 votes, the second best score in the ballot despite tenth place on the LB list. The young alderman, like other activists of his generation, is aware that renewal and in-depth work are necessary. With his personal score, the son of “Walter the Bookseller” already sees himself as leader of the opposition. Others strongly encourage him to do so. A municipal opposition which already promises to be intractable against the Engagés “who disappointed voters who wanted to see them join the coalition, of course, but without sending us back thanks to the support of Ecolo and the PS”. Paul Magnette, who came discreetly to Walloon Brabant to assess the situation, ended up encouraging the head of the local list, the socialist Kyriaki Michelis, to support the Engagés. Rocking this liberal bastion: the opportunity was too good. The symbol is national in scope.
Municipal elections: the MR loses Wavre which passes into the hands of the Engagés
Another young person fully shares the liberal DNA of Gilles Agosti, it is Qassem Fosseprez. This self-proclaimed “president’s man” – he is Georges-Louis Bouchez’s communications manager – also intends to be part of the new liberal generation in Wavre. Both observe that many Wavriens voted for the Engagés in the municipal elections, but for the MR in the provincial elections. These young shoots are preparing for rebirth. Although determined, they will have to be patient for six long years.
