Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ghent Mayor Mathias De Clercq (Vooruit) is on medical leave until the end of August 2025, after falling ill during €120 million budget talks. Astrid De Bruycker and Hafsa El-Bazioui replace him.
As VRT News reported, Ghent‘s Mayor, Mathias De Clercq, who is part of the Vooruit party, is currently on medical leave. He will be staying home until the end of August 2025, as advised by his doctors. The city issued a clear statement, stating that this break from his duties is “absolutely necessary” due to health reasons. They haven’t revealed the specific details of his medical condition.
Officials suggested that the leave wasn’t unexpected but had been planned with physicians to appropriately pace and avoid complications with his health. Mayor De Clercq should return to function late August 2025, all going to plan with his recovery.
Who is leading Ghent while Mayor De Clercq is on leave?
While Mayor De Clercq is on leave, his responsibilities will be shared by 2 colleagues to ensure the city’s leadership continues. Until July 16 2025, Astrid De Bruycker, from Vooruit, will act as mayor. She already manages important city areas like participation and civil rights.
After July 16, Hafsa El-Bazioui from Groen, the First Alderman, will take over. She’s in charge of climate and youth affairs and is ready for the mayoral duties. The city assures that the change will be seamless, and Ghent’s governance will proceed without any disruption during De Clercq’s absence.
According to officials, Mayor Mathias De Clercq of Ghent suddenly stopped working after a night of difficult discussions. These talks were about finding €120 million in budget cuts each year. He became unwell during the night of July 2nd to 3rd, 2025, and briefly went to the hospital.
He was able to go home later, but doctors told him to rest completely. He has been resting at home ever since. City officials said he had to stop working because of his health. His absence also meant he missed the final decisions on the city’s cost-cutting plans, which will have a big impact on local services and policies.
The details of De Clercq’s health are not known. However, he wrote on Facebook about what happened. He said he needed to “pause for a moment. He thanked people for their supportive messages, saying they helped him feel better and focus on getting well. De Clercq talked about how everyone needs to take a break sometimes. He said that pausing can help you come back stronger.
