Bullet through church: Tielt and Meulebeke merge
Dirk Verwilst, mayor of Meulebeke: “That was not an easy task. You have to take off your sash and throw everything in one heap and hope that the same parties and some of those people can also govern. We can perfectly do another year, maybe even a legislature move on. But if we get our feet in the mud, it’s too late to go in a good direction.”
The approval is a formality in both municipalities, it appears, because the opposition parties are also in favour. Marina Duyck, opposition party N-VA Meulebeke: “We will certainly vote yes, in other words for a merger, because the administrative power analysis has shown that there are many advantages to it. It is better that one-man services become multi-man services. Together we can also invest in a swimming pool.”
Simon Germonpré, opposition party Open VLD / N-VA Tielt: “Yes, we will approve that. It is a pity that it is with two municipalities and not with three. We are sorry that Pittem has dropped out.”
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Soon it will be the largest party that gets the sash. Mayor Verwilst is under investigation for a conflict of interest. Maybe it will be positive for him, his cart at the CD&V in Tielt? “I know how firm I am in that area. And that has absolutely nothing to do with the merger. Or that can’t cost me voters? If I have made mistakes, if I have deliberately made mistakes, then the voter can punish me .”