The turbulent political period in Ghent leaves deep marks. Mathias De Clercq (For Ghent) today presented the new city council between Open VLD, Vooruit and Groen with a smile. N-VA was close to reaching an agreement with De Clercq two weeks ago, but remains empty-handed.
And that runs deep within the party. De Clercq had only just posed for a group photo with the new aldermen on Tuesday, when Anneleen Van Bossuyt showed up at the town hall. She clashed with Hafsa El-Bazioui (Green) in front of the television cameras.
“There are people who called me crying. We’re not bad people, are we? That is what you have achieved, through your behavior. And I blame you incredibly much for that,” said Van Bossuyt.
Yelled out
She referred to the turbulent city council of October 21, when a demonstration broke out in front of city hall after it became known that De Clercq did not want to govern with Groen, but with N-VA. Groen’s leaders then went outside to address the demonstrators. Van Bossuyt was afterwards booed as she left city hall.
El-Bazioui emphasized that the party “immediately distanced itself” and referred to a demonstration last night. “Jeering at politicians, regardless of party, has no place in society. Yesterday there were 200 people here jeering at Groen and me, I distance myself from that in all directions.”
“I didn’t speak to those people, Hafsa,” Van Bossuyt interrupted. El-Bazioui emphasized that the new city council is there, “for all Ghent residents, including the people who voted for N-VA. They are also full-fledged Ghent residents.”
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