Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Els Ampe has resigned from the Brussels municipal council due to family reasons, stating she can’t fulfill her duties effectively. She plans to remain politically active by supporting candidates and coaching for her party, Voor U.
Els Ampe has been involved in politics in Brussels for a long time. She started her political career on the Brussels city council in 2006 and was an alderman from 2013 to 2018. While she was an alderman, she worked on public works, transportation, and city infrastructure, helping with different projects in the city. In 2023, Els Ampe left her long-time political party, Open VLD, where she had built her career. She then started her own party called Voor U to create a new political direction. However, in the elections on June 9, 2024, Voor U did not get enough votes to win any seats, and Ampe lost her position in parliament. After this, she decided to resign from her last role as a municipal councillor in Brussels. This means she is stepping away from public office for now, ending an important part of her political career.
What prompted Els Ampe to resign from the Brussels municipal council?
Els Ampe has announced that she is resigning from the Brussels municipal council because of family reasons that will keep her from attending meetings for the next three months. She shared this news on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “An empty chair is of no use to anyone. That is why I am resigning.” Ampe explained that she needs to focus on her family right now and realizes she can’t do her job well as a councillor during this time. Even though Els Ampe is stepping down from her official role, she promised her supporters that she will still be involved in politics, just in a different way. She said she will continue to support her political beliefs, but not as an elected official rather, she will help as a volunteer. This is a big change for Ampe, who has been a well-known figure in Brussels politics for many years. Now, she will focus more on her personal life while still helping her community in a supportive role.
Ampe wants to support her party friend Ana Kazemi, whom she describes as smart and kind. Kazemi is running for elections for the first time in October and is in 6th place on the MR+ list led by David Weytsman. Ampe also plans to stay involved by coaching the For You candidates running in local elections in October in cities like Ghent, Antwerp, Hasselt, Leuven, and Bruges.
