Tonight Zuhal Demir (N-VA) will know whether she will become mayor of Genk or remain Flemish Minister of Education. “Then I will sleep a little easier,” she says after casting her vote. What is her dream job? “Both.”
First she went with her father – who recently fell – to the station where he had to vote, then a breakfast with fellow party members was planned. It was not until around twelve o’clock that Zuhal Demir (N-VA) himself went to the polls in the Limburghal in Genk. For the time being, as Flemish Minister of Education, although she says tonight she will know whether she can exchange that title for that of mayor. “I hope to know around five o’clock. I will then sleep a little more peacefully. There have been quite a few people waiting for me in recent weeks. The result of my clear communication, of course. But I will not go back on my statement and I do not regret it. My dad arrived here in Genk in the 1970s as a miner, it would be great to be mayor here. And also a unique opportunity after CD&V had been in power for eighty years. It’s now or never. If the people of Genk want change, then I will start work the day after tomorrow, so to speak.”
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Before Minister Demir went to the polling station, she had breakfast with fellow party members. To her left is Laura Olaerts, number three on the list — © red
Demir also had to conclude – just like elsewhere in the rest of Flanders – that fewer people showed up in Genk due to the abolition of compulsory voting. “There were long queues here in June. I do hope that people will still come and vote today. It’s important. Those who want change must make themselves heard now. For me it is unclear whether abolishing compulsory voting will have much influence on the results. I have never been in favor of abolishing it. I am in favor of compulsory voting.”
What will the rest of the day bring? “I’m going jogging this afternoon. About eight kilometers. Although it has been a few weeks since I last walked. We’ll see what that means.”
Demir crossed paths with her competitor, current mayor Wim Dries (CD&V), when she went to vote. — © Katrijn Van Giel
Her biggest competitor, mayor Wim Dries (CD&V), crossed her path when entering the polling station. He also knows what it will be tonight. “If Zuhal Demir becomes mayor, then I will not become an alderman,” he was clear. “I have been mayor for fifteen years, so I do not want to act as an alderman as mother-in-law to a new mayor. Regardless of who that is. So I don’t have a plan B.”
In the 2018 elections, Wim Dries received 11,926 preferential votes, Demir 8,200.
