It took a whole day for the agreements to be endorsed by the local sections of the different parties. Tempted by a possible participation in power in the Province with the reformers, the socialists slowed down the conclusion of the pre-agreement reached at the level of local authorities on Monday evening. Strong pressure from the high authorities of the MR was, it seems, put on the Engagés in order to allow the Mayor’s List to retain the mayorship of Anne Masson, in vain. The change demanded by Wavriens at the polls this Sunday will take place.
This is the message that Benoît Thoreau wanted to deliver in a very laconic press release, released this Tuesday evening: “Through their votes on October 13, Wavriens asked for change. We had promised this change during the electoral campaign and, following the results of the elections, we do not want to translate it into half-measures […] In Wavre, a page turns. The new coalition will do everything it can to make the city of Wavre a place where quality of life is there for every resident.”
The majority pact establishes the composition of the new municipal college: 5 Committed, including the mayor Benoît Thoreau, 2 PS and 1 Ecolo, which may be surprising given that the Greens, suffering a heavy defeat this Sunday, had announced that they would not demand anything, and certainly not an alderman.
“I will not cling to power”
So, who is Benoît Thoreau, this new mayor elected with 840 votes? A pure-bred Wavrian, Benoît Thoreau has a rather conciliatory character; he does not have the appearance of a man thirsty for power but rather that of a patient, persevering and diligent man. He has been in opposition for 23 years against reformers who have not always spared him. In 23 years, he must not have missed more council meetings than his hand has fingers. He reacted to our questions this Tuesday evening, just after the release of his press release.
Benoît Thoreau, is it a kind of dream that you are realizing by becoming mayor?
I wouldn’t say that I’m realizing a dream by becoming mayor, because the result that the Engagés obtained was totally unthinkable before the elections. We thought we would win elected officials, going from 2 to 6 was already tripling our presence, but we never thought we would win 12 seats. This changed the outlook for me.
What is your priority now?
My priority is obviously change for Wavre, because that is the main desire that the voters expressed this Sunday. We were aware that a new impetus was necessary, that’s what we’re here for. I think it is quite normal, this need for change, after 50 years in power for the Liberals. This is what we call the attrition of power.
You are 76 years old, you are very experienced, but not too old for this adventure?
This is the last year I can read TintinIt’s true. And I have a good night’s sleep, despite the tensions of the last few days. I feel in great shape.
Have you not imagined a pre-agreement in which you would give up your place in 3 years, mid-term, for example?
No, we haven’t thought about it but I’m not opposed to the idea. I’m not going to cling to power if my health no longer keeps up, that’s for sure.
Is there a file for which you would like to quickly change course?
There are plenty of issues that demand our attention. But an impulse that is dear to me is the fight against flooding. Wavre saw 2,000 of its buildings damaged in July 2021. It’s huge. I refuse to think that we have to live with this threat in Wavre. Our northern neighbors prove to us that we don’t have to live with that. The majority of Anne Masson had already started the work but I am going to accelerate it.
You have not yet defined the skills of the aldermen or yours?
No, because there are still doubts and reflection to be had for certain people because we were all surprised, at least among the Engagés… So that will be for later.
