Elections 2024: Social-liberal alliance continues negotiations with N-VA in Ghent, Greens left out

The social-liberal alliance Voor Gent, the winner of the local elections in Ghent, has decided to start further negotiations on a coalition agreement with the conservative N-VA. If Voor Gent and N-VA come to an agreement, this would mean that Flemish green party Groen would no longer be part of the city’s leadership, for the first time in twelve years.

Voor Gent is the alliance between Open VLD, led by current mayor Mathias De Clercq and the socialists of Vooruit. To embark on a second term in Ghent, De Clercq could obtain a majority with both Groen and N-VA.

In recent days, De Clercq had shared a draft coalition agreement with both Groen and N-VA, to which both were allowed to react. De Clercq now stated that Groen “does not accept the progressive and social draft, even after adjustments at their request”. He decided to start up further negotiations with N-VA.

The issue divided public opinion in Ghent last week, resulting in a series of open letters by civil society and business associations. At party meetings, it also emerged that the socialist and liberal wings of Voor Gent each had their own preferences. Some liberals were keen on a change of course with N-VA. Among socialists, this seemed less evident. Both groups did rally behind a shared position on Monday, with the socialists of Vooruit criticising Groen’s attitude.

“Groen continues to refuse to accept this draft in order to negotiate further,” stated Vooruit. “We regret this, especially considering all the efforts we made to keep Groen at the negotiating table. After all, Groen was our privileged partner.”

Groen however has a different reading of how the negotiations went. The party felt it was given too little say on the draft and denounced De Clercq's approach. A particular stumbling block seems to have been an investment of around 100 million euros in a parking facility, which Groen firmly opposes. The Greens however hope that a relaunch of the negotiations is still possible.

A coalition with N-VA would give De Clercq a majority of 29 out of 53 seats. Groen would be in the ​ opposition with 14 councillors, in the company of several smaller Ghent parties – such as CD&V (4), PVDA (3) and Vlaams Belang (3).

^{#FlandersNewsService | Gent Mayor Mathias De Clercq delivers a speech at a meeting of the 'Voor Gent' alliance between Flemish liberal party Open Vld and socialists Vooruit, on the evening of the local elections on Sunday 13 October 2024 © BELGA PHOTO JONAS DHOLLANDER}