Elections 2024: Campaign shows just how difficult living together is

The municipal level isn’t the most important political level in Belgium, but it’s the most concrete level. The level people connect to most. The level where decisions are taken of which people experience the consequences every day. This is reflected in the election campaign. The most important themes are also the most controversial ones.

Money is nearly always an important topic at a national level. Where does the public money come from and where does it go to? Who has to pay what amount of taxes? Which priorities get the most subsidies? This discussion was largely absent in recent weeks, during the campaign for the elections for municipal and provincial councils. Other topics were much more prominent.

-Mobility. Most (adult) Belgians own a car and many are addicted to it. As a result, there are many traffic jams, not enough parking spots in cities, pollution, accidents, dangerous roads. For years, most cities and villages have promoted other modes of transport, with bicycles as the main alternative. This is part of making cities “greener”, people-oriented instead of cars-oriented.

Although most people would agree this is necessary, the process isn’t going peacefully. The “bicycle-lovers” feel the change is going too slow and cars remain prominent. The “car-lovers” feel oppressed and say they need their car for different activities. In such an atmosphere, some politicians feel tempted to take sides.

-Housing. Another example of not enough space to give everyone what he wants. In Belgium, there’s not so much a problem with sufficient housing; the problem is the lack of affordable houses. Mostly in cities, prices have risen sharply in recent decades. And social housing is limited. In general, Belgium has good social protection, but traditionally, authorities haven’t invested enough in social housing.

Nimby (not in my backyard) is an important cause of the problem. Real estate promotors have plans and money to build additional housing, but it’s difficult to get building permits. Neighbours start juridical procedures against all big projects. Local politicians promise improvement, but don’t explain how.

-Security. As in every election in recent decades, there’s also the vicious triangle migration-crime-drugs. True or not, many people feel there are too many migrants, too much crime, a growing presence of drugs, and they feel that somehow the three are related. Some facts are undeniable: there are more drugs, that are also stronger. There’s an influx of refugees, who often end up homeless. Criminals can easily profit from all this.

Efforts have been made to tackle these problems, but they are still present in big cities and in smaller ones. Politicians and people disagree about what to do now. Is a war-on-drugs smart, or is prevention the better option? Can we have cameras everywhere, is privacy a thing of the past? Do we need policemen or social workers? ​ Should we welcome people fleeing poverty and war?

Local elections will take place at municipal and provincial levels in Belgium on Sunday 13 October. In the run-up to the vote, Belga English explores the main issues to watch out for and provides an overview of events.

_{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND}