Guy D'haeseleer sworn in as Flanders' first far-right mayor
Vlaams Belang politician Guy D'haeseleer was sworn in on Thursday as Flanders' first far-right mayor. His Forza Ninove list won a narrow absolute majority in October's local elections.
Forza Ninove won 47.4 per cent of the vote, giving it a slim majority of 18 out of 35 seats. This means that if one councillor were to drop out, the majority would be threatened. D'haeseleer asked right-wing N-VA to join his majority the day after the election, but the party refused.
"For the first time in many years, this city will be led by someone who enjoys by far the greatest confidence of the population, and that's the way it should be," D'haeseleer said after being sworn in.
Proxy votes
However, D'haeseleer's victory was not without controversy. A judicial investigation into the possible abuse of the proxy vote system in Ninove is ongoing, East Flanders public prosecutor's office told Belga on Thursday.
The investigation concerns the possible misuse of proxy votes. The prosecutor's office is investigating whether Forza Ninove recruited proxy votes that could have influenced the result. No update was given on the situation in order not to violate the secrecy of the investigation.
Ninove is not the only party where Vlaams Belang came to power after the October elections. In the West Flemish town of Izegem and the Antwerp municipalities of Brecht and Ranst, Vlaams Belang is part of the local government.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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