The current college composed of the greens, the socialists and the CDH will be replaced by a team comprising the local MR, the PS and the CDH. Ecolo therefore returns to the benches of the opposition and the mayor Julie Chantry (an ecologist) will lose her functions.
According to our information, the MR should take over the mayorship. The name of Nicolas Van der Maren (municipal councilor) is mentioned.
A press release announcing this sudden shift in local politics was sent to the editorial staff on Wednesday morning. A press conference of the MR, the PS and the CDH will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the university town.
A constructive motion of no confidence will be tabled today or tomorrow. And within two weeks, during a municipal council dedicated to the question – it will not be the one already scheduled for next Tuesday – the change of majority will be recorded.
Why does Ecolo see himself landed in this way? According to our sources, it seems that Ecolo has annoyed its socialist and humanist partners by practicing too demanding a policy vis-à-vis UCLouvain. Other, more “political” factors are also mentioned.
A “sterile warfare”
A look back at the tensions of the past few days. Yves Leroy, municipal councilor of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve (Avenir, majority), had sent an open letter to the press to denounce the comments made by the alderman of Budget and Finance, Philippe Delvaux (Ecolo), in the magazine Médor, last month, with regard to UCLouvain.
Admittedly, the man was director of the Blocry Sports Center and facilitator of UCLouvain. What to understand his deep attachment to the university. But he is also a sage, a unifier. His exit therefore had something to challenge. “This article where the alderman attacks the university in order to extract money from it (Editor’s note: for a long time, the alderman maintains that UCLouvain does not contribute enough to municipal finances) , It’s the drop of water that makes the vase overflow, commented Yves Leroy. It’s not the first time he’s done this type of outing and I’ve already told him that I regret it. It becomes denigrating and here I say stop, it must stop. We must stop this sterile squabble.”
The councilor acknowledged that the alderman is in charge of his files and that the City’s budget is not easy to close. But he regretted that he had chosen the university as his target, an institution dedicated to teaching and research. “He is in the wrong fight. Our shared history has shown that it is beneficial for the City and the university to work together.”
For his part, Philippe Delvaux said to himself “surprised” of Yves Leroy’s approach. “He did not contact me. Basically, my arguments are not new. UCLouvain brings something fantastic to the city and participates in its development. For my part, I look at the budget as a whole and each has his point of view on UCLouvain’s participation in municipal finances.”
Second dissension
This was the second outing of a member of Avenir who showed dissension within the majority, following that of Cédric du Monceau on the permit issued by the college for the Château de Limelette. “It is clear that the disagreements are becoming flagrant and important within the majority. This shows that it no longer cares regarding much” , supported the leader of OLLN 2.0 (then in opposition), Nicolas Van der Maren.
Whether at UCLouvain, the Province or even at the inBW, it came back to us that it is difficult, confirms a source, to work with Philippe Delvaux. Because if he is a hard-working person who is very involved in his files, he is given an obtuse, condescending and lesson-giving side that irritates and does not help to find consensus. Not to mention his media releases which tense more than one. “I can hear that his way of doing things does not please some people. But he is committed to defending the interests of the City and he has all my confidence” , said Julie Chantry, the mayor.
