Dutch-speaking candidates fare well in Brussels
87 Dutch-speaking candidates were elected to the 19 municipal councils in the Brussels-Capital Region on Sunday. This is 9 more than at the last municipal elections in 2012. The last time that so many Flemings were elected to serve as councillors in Brussels municipalities was back in the 1980’s. 12.5% of the total number of councillors elected in the capital on Sunday are Dutch-speaking.
While, in almost all cases the Flemish greens, socialists, Christian democrats and liberals stood on bi-lingual list, usually with their Francophone sister party, the Flemish nationalist had to go it alone.
Despite high expectations ahead of Sunday’s municipal elections, the nationals increased their tally of councillors by just 1 to 7. N-VA now have one councillor each in Anderlecht (down from 2 last time), the City of Brussels, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Evere, Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Jette and Ganshoren.
Meanwhile, the far-right Vlaams Belang that as recently as 2000 had 18 councillors in Brussels municipality, lost the last of its councillors in the capital.
Nationalists fail to make a breakthrough
While, in almost all cases the Flemish greens, socialists, Christian democrats and liberals stood on bi-lingual list, usually with their Francophone sister party, the Flemish nationalist had to go it alone. Despite high expectations ahead of Sunday’s municipal elections, the nationals increased their tally of councillors by just 1 to 7.
N-VA now have one councillor each in Anderlecht (down from 2 last time), the City of Brussels, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Evere, Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Jette and Ganshoren. Meanwhile, the far-right Vlaams Belang that as recently as 2000 had 18 councillors in Brussels municipality, lost the last of its councillors in the capital.
Far-left Flemings
The strong score by the far-left PVDA-PTB in some of the capital’s municipalities saw its number of Dutch-speaking councilors increase from 1 to 6. In addition to Flemings that stood as party candidates, four Dutch-speaking independents were also elected to serve as councilors.
14 more waiting in the wings
In addition to the Dutch-speaking 87 councillors already elected, there are another 14 Flemings that as the first candidate not elected on their respective lists could become councillors if another councillors resigns, moves or dies.
This is of course something that could go both ways and the number of Flemings serving on the 19 municipal councils in Brussels is almost certain to fluctuate over the next 6 years.