The municipal council does this at the request of Vlaams Belang municipal councilor Immanuel De Reuse. According to De Reuse, the title inspires confidence, while former mayor Martens has been ordered several times to repay large sums of money that he lent to acquaintances and companies in the region. It is also a signal to those affected that the city council will not accept this.
The awarding of an honorary title to mayors is a competence of the Flemish Government.