Anderlecht (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Team Fouad Ahidar is gaining momentum ahead of the October elections securing representation in eight municipalities. Former N-VA leader Nadine Van Lysebetten and Schaarbeek councilor Ange-Raïssa Uzanziga are joining the party aiming to address community issues and enhance local governance.
It has been said that team Fouad Ahidar is having a strong showing not only with good election results from June but also by being represented in 8 municipalities for the upcoming October elections. The party is attracting former politicians such as Schaarbeek councilor Ange-Raïssa Uzanziga who is switching from Groen to join Ahidar. Additionally former N-VA member Nadine Van Lysebetten has announced her move to Team Fouad Ahidar, stating that she will be on their list in October although her exact position is still uncertain. She expressed her desire to contribute to Anderlecht politics despite having stepped away for a while.
Is Nadine Van Lysebetten’s return to Anderlecht politics with team Fouad Ahidar?
Nadine Van Lysebetten used to be a key leader for the N-VA party in Anderlecht. She was the top candidate in 2012 and later became the faction leader in the municipal council. However she faced disappointment when she didn’t get to lead the list again in 2018 and left the party on bad terms. Now she wants to get back into local politics but with a new party, Team Fouad Ahidar. She chose this party because she sees that Anderlecht’s community is changing and believes it’s important to connect different groups better. She trusts Fouad Ahidar calling him a caring and social leader. Van Lysebetten wants to focus on making Anderlecht safer and cleaner saying that sometimes stricter actions are needed because other parties are too easygoing. She also wants to fight against discrimination towards older people and has even written a book about it.
Van Lysebetten said that Team Fouad Ahidar doesn’t focus mainly on discrimination issues but they do not support any form of discrimination against minorities including Dutch speakers. For her it is still a very important topic. If she gets into the municipal council she will keep working for the rights of Dutch-speaking people and wants them to be able to talk to the municipality in their own language. She feels positive about the elections in October and thinks they will do well. However she isn’t sure if she will win a seat or where she will be on the list as that will depend on the voters.
