Former State Secretary for Education, Culture and Media Fleur Gräper (D66) new mayor of Tilburg

D66 member Fleur Gräper-van Koolwijk will become the new mayor of Tilburg. This was announced on Thursday in the town hall of the North Brabant city. Last year, the fifty-year-old Gräper was (outgoing) State Secretary for Culture and Media in the Rutte IV cabinet – which was formed by VVD, D66, CDA and Christian Union. Previously, she was a representative in Groningen and chairman of D66. Gräper will be sworn in on January 21. Until then, Onno Hoes (VVD) will act as acting mayor.

“Fleur is a connector who embraces our idiosyncratic city and, with her experience, personality and network, stands up for the interests of Tilburg and the people of Tilburg,” said chairman Henk van Tilborg of the confidential committee. according to the municipality of Tilburg during the public council meeting.

The successor to VVD member Theo Weterings (66), who was mayor of Tilburg for almost eight years but quit last August to spend more time with his wife, would actually only be announced on October 30.

It Brabants Dagblad however, announced on Thursday that Esmah Lahlah, number two on the GroenLinks-PvdA candidate list, applied for the office of mayor of Tilburg in July. While this procedure was still ongoing, she also put herself on the list for the House of Representatives elections. “I did not discuss my decision to apply internally, and I should have done so differently,” she wrote on X.

The publication in the regional newspaper has violated the confidentiality of the application procedure. The chairman of the confidential committee, Van Tilborg, announced that a report will be filed. Anyone who leaks such information can be jailed for up to one year.

Gräper studied history in Groningen, is married and has two children who are studying. She now lives in the municipality of Groningen. A total of eight women and nine men applied for the position.

Give a gift





Part





Email the editor