Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper): In Kortessem, the unity list of N-VA and Open VLD, led by Steven Vandeput, secured 5 out of 13 seats, while CD&V got 2. N-VA now holds 6 seats and Open VLD 7, showing a shift towards liberal influence. Mayor Tom Thisen highlighted the need for plans to support rural residents.
In the recent elections, the unity list of N-VA and Open VLD, led by Hasselt mayor Steven Vandeput, performed well in Kortessem. Of the 13 elected members, 5 were from Kortessem, indicating strong support in the area.
What do the recent election results in Kortessem indicate about party popularity and the impact of local governance?
CD&V got 2 elected members from Kortessem, while Vooruit and Vlaams Belang had some representatives. PVDA and Groen only elected councilors from Hasselt, which shows they are more popular in cities. The results show that the unity list was the strongest party in Kortessem, while other parties did not do as outside of Hasselt.
According to Mayor Tom Thisen of Kortessem (CD&V), the recent election results show an important message linked to the merger story, affecting not just Kortessem but also other areas of Hasselt. He believes it’s important to improve the sub-municipalities and create a plan that meets the needs of all residents, including those in rural areas. The unity list led by Steven Vandeput didn’t do as they did in 2018, N-VA won 12 seats and Open VLD won 4, but now N-VA has 6 and Open VLD has 7, making the liberals stronger than the Flemish nationalists in the new setup.
