UPDATEConner Rousseau has until April 13 to decide whether he wants to push the Flemish election list into East Flanders. The party’s membership congress decided this. The former chairman would normally draw the list, but according to him it is still too early to return to the main gate. He wants the coming months to be about content and not about his person.
LOOK. Political journalist Karel Lattrez: “The question of whether and when Conner Rousseau will make a comeback remains an obstacle”
The then chairman was put forward last year to draw the East Flemish list for the Flemish elections. But Rousseau resigned as party chairman and MP a few days later after the fuss that arose over the racist statements he had made while drunk. The question of whether the former party chairman would make a comeback in the coming elections has haunted the party since his resignation. Vooruit would normally provide clarity on Tuesday evening at a conference in Ghent, during which the East Flemish members will still approve the lists for the Flemish Parliament and the Chamber.
Rousseau had informed the party office earlier in the evening that he did not want to draw the list. “Conner has informed us and the members that he is suitable for party leadership,” said chairman Melissa Depraetere in a statement after the conference. “He thinks it is still too much about his person. And he wants it to be mainly about the campaign and the substantive proposals of Vooruit. He has taken a decision in the interest of the party. In the interest of the message and the campaign.”
They ask very clearly that he (Conner Rousseau, ed.) still participate in the elections
At the express request of the members, the Flemish list pusher position is left open. The former chairman has until April 13 to decide on this. “Many people, inside but also outside the party, have asked about Conner tonight, but also in recent weeks,” said Depraetere. “They are asking very clearly that he still participate in the elections. We must also take that question seriously.”
Current federal faction leader Joris Vandenbroucke will draw the federal list. Flemish Member of Parliament Freya Van den Bossche draws the Flemish list. That is somewhat surprising, because Van den Bossche was previously mentioned as a federal leader. “With Joris and Freya, we choose to divide our other two strongholds in East Flanders between the two lists,” says Depraetere. “Today, Joris is already our federal leader as faction leader in parliament. He is therefore the logical leader of the federal list. Freya knows the Flemish themes inside and out. She is also one of the heavyweights of our party.”
READ ALSO:
Is Conner Rousseau making a comeback? He has already decided, today the rest of the world can know (+)
OUR OPINION. “It is democratic if Rousseau puts his fate in the hands of the voter” (+)
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.