John Crombez went to perform with his band yesterday: “That’s why I slept well” (Oostende)

If the polls are correct, the Socialists in Ostend will take back the sash today after six years of opposition. “But until the first results come in, expectations are very muted,” says party leader John Crombez.

Vote on time and then stick to the normal routines and certainly don’t miss the daily walk with Ellie, his American Stafford. “Then the dog is happy, and so am I,” says John Crombez. It was with his partner and several employees that the Vooruit party leader arrived at the polling station in the municipal sports hall at half past nine to cast his vote under the eyes of many camera crews. Crombez had slept well. “We performed with the band in the Langestraat on Saturday evening (Joy Division-tributeband SevZero, red). That’s quite tiring. That makes you sleep well.”

The Vooruit party leader was not nervous on Sunday morning. “The campaign has been conducted. It’s like the exams in the past. Once you have studied everything, there is not much you can do.” In Ostend, Vooruit is taking on ‘Proud of Oostende’, a cartel list of the Open VLD of outgoing mayor Bart Tommelein, together with coalition partners Groen and Cd&V.

According to the polls, the socialists are in good hands. The people of Ostend do not give their city council very good marks. The expansion of zone 30 and the many fines associated with it, and the still dilapidated Thermae Palace, are among the things that are a source of contention.

“We have noticed that the people of Ostend long for a different government. But I’m not going to say that I’m going to become mayor.”

John Crombez

Yet the party leader did not want to anticipate the facts on Sunday morning. “No, my speech is not written. We have noticed that the people of Ostend long for a different government. But I’m not going to say that I’m going to become mayor. Especially on the morning of the vote. You start with zero votes. Until the first results come in, expectations are very moderate.” (Read more below the photo)

Outgoing mayor Bart Tommelein voted three times on Sunday morning. The first time, according to tradition, at nine o’clock with his father Jef Tommelein. At 11 a.m. he cast his own vote and an hour later he voted again with a proxy. Tommelein does not want to be discouraged by the polls. “The real polls are today. We have done everything we can to improve our city for six years. We hope that the people of Ostend see that.”