In theory, it is Bruno Lefèbvre (PS) who should (re)become mayor of Ath, after having led the PS list on October 13, and having achieved the best score (2960 votes). But we know well that Mr. Lefèbvre was elected Walloon deputy last June and that he does not enter the “quota” of the 25% of the members of his group who can claim the accumulation between a deputy seat and an executive seat. local.
Bruno Lefèbvre must therefore make a choice. A choice that he tries to postpone as much as possible. Not to wait for a “miracle” (although…), but for a modification of Walloon legislation which would allow him to combine the two mandates (deputy and mayor). Others besides him would be interested,… even if Athois has lost an objective ally in Péruwelz since the MR of Vincent Palermo (also a deputy) was rejected in the opposition. We know that Mr. Lefèbvre ardently campaigns for a combination of functions (of this type), with financial decumulation.
Two majority pacts, with “variants”
To obviously save a little more time and allow three additional weeks of reflection (or hope, it depends) between now and the installation of the municipal councils (the 1st Monday of December, December 2 therefore), Bruno Lefèbvre and the PS of Ath use a possibility authorized by the Code of Local Democracy and Decentralization. The CDLD allows you to submit several majority agreements on the agreed date (before the second Monday in November). “It’s the law and it’s a question of democracy.” Minister François Desquesnes tells us, recalling the legal framework. “All groups represented on the municipal council can submit a majority pact provided, 1) that the councilors elected on the same list constitute a common political group; 2) that the said pact has a majority on the municipal council.”
“The different majority pacts are then put to a vote on the 1st Monday in December. It is up to the chairman of the meeting to determine the order in which the different pacts will be presented. In the circular of October 10, 2024, I recommend presenting the different pacts in the order of deposits. The first pact adopted results in the rejection of the following ones.
“The submission of two majority pacts is admissible subject to compliance with the forms prescribed by L1123-1 of the CDLD and that each pact presented has a majority within the municipal council. indicates the circular of October 10. “In such a hypothesis, the CDLD does not determine a voting order. It is up to the chairman of the meeting to determine one. The chronological order of the submission of the pacts seems to be the most appropriate solution. The first pact adopted will result in the rejection of the second.”
The PS and the MR, this Friday at the end of the afternoon, therefore submitted two majority pacts in the hands of the general director of Ath, Bruno Boël.
In a first pact, Bruno Lefèbvre is presented as mayor. It would thus be presented to the assembly if, by December 2, accumulation became possible or if Mr. Lefèbvre renounced his mandate as deputy.
In a second pact, Florent Van Grootenbrulle (who obtained the second best score on the PS list) is presented as mayor. In this case, Bruno Lefèbvre would be proposed as president of the municipal council, as was the case at the end of June when he gave up the mayoral seat following his election to the Walloon parliament.
In such a case, the municipal college will be as follows: · Florent Van Grootenbrulle (PS): mayor; Ysaline Remy (MR): 1st alderman; Jérome Salingue (PS): 2nd alderman; Christophe Degand (MR): 3rd alderman; Ludivine Gauthier (PS): 4th alderwoman; Murielle Cornil (MR): 5th alderman; Jessy Kerldermans (PS): 6th alderman; Dany Vandenbrande (PS): president of the CPAS.
Mr. Keldermans would not appear in the college if Mr. Lefèbvre were mayor.
Link with Namur
Note that if Bruno Lefèbvre decided to give up his mandate as deputy (which seems unlikely), it is Laetitia Liénard (1st substitute) who would join Namur.
Bruno Lefèbvre clearly suggests that he will remain a Walloon MP (only) if the “rules” do not change by December 2. “It is important to have this link with the Walloon authorities, particularly with regard to the financial situation of the municipalities…” In Brussels, the PS put on the table of Parliament a proposal for an ordinance to adapt the rules regarding the accumulation of mandates (generally similar to those in force in Wallonia), which could allow certain PS and MR elected officials to accumulate early December. “What is possible in Brussels should be possible in Wallonia too” notes Bruno Lefèbvre. This Friday, however, the PS was unable to find enough support in the Brussels Parliament to reverse course.
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