Tom Meeuws (53) has announced his resignation as alderman of the city of Antwerp. He announced that he will immediately resign from his aldermanic position and will no longer stand in the upcoming municipal elections. “I’m quitting as alderman and municipal councilor because I’m tired.”
Tom Meeuws was elected to the Antwerp city council in the 2018 municipal elections and was given the office of alderman for social affairs, poverty reduction, social economy, environment and community development by his party.
But this weekend he unexpectedly resigned.
In a press release he writes: “I am quitting as alderman and municipal councilor because I am tired. And I’m also a bit tired. Thanks to strong people around me, I have been able to realize many positive projects in and for the city and OCMW in recent years. Often for residents who feel orphaned. A lot for organizations that want to build up. Always in good terms with enthusiastic civil servants. In a board with many ideological differences, there was a weekly struggle for files, but also withholding files. I have always done this with enthusiasm, with an open mind and with a collegial spirit.”
“I can no longer sacrifice my workforce to politics”
Meeuws continues: “Of course not everything worked out and I often had to punch above my weight. Sometimes it is small pebbles in the shoe that can hurt viciously. Or a splinter of wood under the fingernail that swears evil. I had no ambitions in national politics. And I wasn’t sure whether I would want a new mandate after the next municipal elections. In recent weeks I felt my energy decreasing. I no longer want to and cannot sacrifice my work force and zest for life to politics as it is practiced insta today. That’s why I tendered my resignation. In gratitude for what has been. And with a strong thumb for those who come after me.”
Meeuws’ successor Tatjana Scheck joined the Antwerp city council in 2018 as successor to Yasmine Kherbache. In 2020, she was elected by the city’s socialist members as chair of Vooruit Antwerpen, a mandate that continues today.
The board of Vooruit city of Antwerp will soon be convened, where it will be proposed that Scheck will take over Meeuws’ entire portfolio of powers and, together with party leader Jinnih Beels and Karim Bachar, will lead Vooruit to the elections of October 2024.
This is the fourth change in councilor in the Antwerp city council after Ludo Van Campenhout, Fons Duchateau (both N-VA) and Claude Marinower (Open VLD).
