Sint-Truiden (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Alderman Gert Stas (Vooruit) temporarily takes over Sint-Truiden mayor Ludwig Vandenhove’s duties after a video showed him unsteady; coalition partner N-VA, led by Günther Dauw, maintains support.
As VRT News reported, Alderman Gert Stas (Vooruit) will take over the duties of Mayor Ludwig Vandenhove (Vooruit) this week. The change comes after a video appeared last week showing the mayor walking unsteadily in public.
The footage caused concern among residents and drew attention in local media. Mayor Vandenhove issued an apology for the “unflattering” video and said he remains committed to the city’s administration.
“I could make all sorts of excuses, but I won’t. I’ll take the next few days to reflect on my health,”
he responded on social media on Friday.
What happens as Gert Stas takes over Sint-Truiden Mayor Vandenhove’s duties?
The mayor requested a short break to rest and recharge. During this time, Stas will manage daily operations and municipal decisions.
“He himself asked me to take over his duties so he can take a week off to recharge,”
Stas said.
“It is important that the people of Sint-Truiden know the city is in capable hands. Work will continue without interruption, and the focus is on keeping services and projects running smoothly.”
Stas will ensure that city operations stay stable while the mayor is temporarily away.
“I hope the mayor will be back next week, but it’s up to him to decide,’
Stas continues.
The situation is certainly regrettable, and it will undoubtedly be discussed further, together with him.”
Coalition partner N-VA announced in a statement that it continues to support Mayor Ludwig Vandenhove (Vooruit) despite the recent public incident. The party described the matter as a personal issue that had a visible impact on the public.
“We consider this a personal event with a public impact,”
said Alderman Günther Dauw (N-VA).
Dauw highlighted that elected officials must take responsibility for their actions within the framework of a public mandate. At the same time, he said, it is important to recognise that everyone can face difficult moments.
“Everyone can face difficult moments. What matters is how you handle them,”
he said.
“We expect Mayor Vandenhove to take the necessary steps to prevent such incidents from happening again. We’ve been able to work well and professionally with the mayor in recent months, and we believe this will continue to be possible in the future,”
Dauw added.
Ludwig Vandenhove (Vooruit) has been mayor of Sint-Truiden since 1995 and has served multiple consecutive terms. He is known for being active in local politics and community projects.
Sint-Truiden’s Mayor Ludwig Vandenhove (Vooruit) has faced public scrutiny before. In 2011, he collapsed in an Italian restaurant with a high blood alcohol level and was hospitalised. Earlier, in 2007, he was involved in a drink-driving incident that led to a minor hit-and-run.
