Bart De Wever about Antwerp’s administrative agreement: “I will be mayor on January 2, after that we’ll see” (Antwerp)

“It is true that I will in any case be mayor on January 2, when the installation meeting of the new city council takes place. The Flemish decree imposes this on me,” he emphasizes. “The federal negotiations will only end after that, but I cannot predict the outcome. I had hoped to have clarity before the municipal elections, but unfortunately that did not work out.”

“I’m not a teenager anymore, I really notice that”

It goes without saying that these were busy months for De Wever. “How was I able to combine the two formations? There was a strong Antwerp N-VA team on whom I could blindly trust to properly lead those negotiations. But it was not really pleasant not to always be able to be present.”

RE-EXPERIENCE. Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Kathleen Van Brempt (Vooruit) propose the Antwerp administrative agreement 2025-2030

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“It hasn’t been since I was a student that I had to work all-nighters. I’m not a teenager anymore, I notice. That was difficult. I was present at the crucial moments and otherwise I read many reports during the night. We have no differences of opinion within the N-VA, so that worked easily.”

Continuity and tax cuts

Met All Antwerp residents N-VA and Vooruit present their project for the next six years in 700 resolutions. “The title speaks for itself. This is an agreement for all Antwerp residents of any age, district, belief and origin. It is an agreement that makes the city more livable, safer, more accessible, greener and larger. All Antwerp residents will benefit from it.”

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Being able to continue after twelve years primarily ensures continuity, De Wever emphasizes. “We continue to focus on safe streets. Something very important is also tackling drug crime. We will be rolling out many more things. Financial viability and health were also extremely important. Antwerp must not fall into debt again. We also want to further reduce taxes, just as we did in the previous legislature.”

Oosterweel

Finally, something that was also discussed was the Oosterweel connection. This already has a large additional cost, “but it is important that the project is fully implemented. Period,” De Wever initially replied briefly. After the press conference he went into more detail.

READ ALSO. Why Oosterweel suddenly costs 3 billion euros more than two years ago and 6.5 billion more than originally planned

“The traffic axes under the Scheldt must be created, just like the bicycle bridge over the Scheldt, the new green spaces and the ring parks. Oosterweel is the largest urban renewal project of the century. The first deliveries are also visible on the right bank. The city is becoming softer in its mobility and also greener. In the parts of the city that need oxygen, it will become tangible.”