Elections 2024: Coalition deadline looms for divided Ghent

As coalition discussions approach a crucial phase in Ghent next Tuesday, a more detailed breakdown of the recent municipal election results highlights stark divisions within the city’s neighbourhoods.

The clock is ticking toward the coalition deadline and pressure is mounting on Ghent’s political leaders to find common ground. Voor Gent, an alliance between the liberal Open VLD and the socialist Vooruit, holds a strong negotiating position after its recent electoral win. However, internal divisions within the alliance complicate the path forward. While some members see a partnership with the right-wing N-VA as a pragmatic choice, especially in light of looming budget cuts, others lean toward an alliance with Groen (the Green party), whose progressive policies resonate with their vision for Ghent.

The city itself mirrors these political rifts. New analysis of the election results reveals a split between a climate-focused, progressive inner city and the more conservative, budget-conscious outer neighbourhoods.

In the densely populated city centre, Groen won strong support, reflecting voters’ demand for continued sustainability initiatives. Groen has been part of the governing coalition for years, and many of its supporters want to see its environmental policies extended. On the outskirts, however, the N-VA has gained ground, attracting voters concerned about the economic costs of an ambitious green agenda, as well as those prioritising safety and preserving traditional values.

Deadlock

Negotiating parties, especially Voor Gent, now face a delicate balancing act. Ghent’s mayor, Mathias Declercq, who also leads Voor Gent, initially leaned toward a coalition with N-VA. But when he announced he would pursue negotiations with N-VA over Groen, significant dissent arose within the socialist wing of his alliance, ultimately leading him to call off a possible deal. Talks with Groen, in turn, have sparked protests, with several hundred residents demonstrating this week against a coalition involving Voor Gent and Groen.

If Voor Gent and Groen cannot strike a deal by Tuesday, the initiative to lead coalition talks will pass to the N-VA, which may attempt to revive discussions with Declercq’s alliance. 

With few viable alternatives, Ghent appears to be inching toward a political deadlock.

(JPO)

^{#FlandersNewsService | Earlier talks between Voor Gent and N-VA have sparked protests across the city, while hundreds of residents took to the streets to demonstrate against the ongoing negotiations between Groen and Voor Gent. The city seems to be inching towards a political deadlock © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}