Goedele Liekens pushes the Open Vld parliamentary list in Flemish Brabant. She announced this herself on Instagram. The news comes as a surprise because she previously announced that she would no longer stand in the elections.
Liekens says that she is not doing it to get elected herself. “The chance from that last place is zero-point-thirty-seven. To literally give the new, young, enthusiastic candidates on the list a boost. Because that is what that party needs; fresh blood, with liberal passion.”
The fact that the Open Vld makes things so difficult for itself visibly hurts her. “We need a new generation: liberals who leave the past behind and rebuild our important values.”
“Choose by name”
“We need a society in which you can move forward if you want to and in which you can launch yourself again if you fall. Who lets you make your own choices, about body, love and life. These liberal core values are under more pressure than ever.”
Finally, Liekens makes a striking appeal. “Even if you have been disappointed in the past, or especially then: choose by name. Color people’s heads, rather than parties. People you believe in. Give them the power to go all out.”
Candidate for European list
The sexologist was first on an Open Vld list in May 2019. She took third place on the parliamentary list in Flemish Brabant and secured a seat thanks to more than 15,000 preferential votes. In Parliament, Liekens profiled herself on themes such as women’s rights, emancipation of women, sexual exploitation and (intra-)family violence. Last year she was a candidate to draw the European list for Open Vld, but the party chose Hilde Vautmans as its leader.
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