“Being able to make a difference and continue to look straight in the mirror, that is my course,” Rombouts says in a Facebook post. “Over the past 20 years, as a Flemish representative, I have passionately represented the voices of many people in the Flemish Parliament. I have not avoided any files or discussions, on the contrary, I have been determined to arrive at well-thought-out solutions, in consultation with knowledgeable people. Spurred on by the great trust that people have given me, I have put my heart and soul into this position.”
But “a lot can change in a short time,” says Rombouts. “Today I experience that the boundaries of my sense of justice are exceeded too often. I have therefore decided to give my professional career a different direction. I am therefore once again making the leadership position for the Flemish list available to the party. My name will not appear on any electoral list for the June 2024 elections.” According to Rombouts, her party has “understanding and mutual respect” for her decision.
Rombouts has been a member of the Flemish Parliament since 2004, and in 2019 she received almost 25,000 preferential votes from second place on the Flemish list. Only eight Antwerp elected officials in the Flemish Parliament preceded her. She mainly profiled herself on the theme of agriculture and has been a frequently heard voice in the nitrogen debate in recent months.
Since 2007, she has also been a municipal councilor in her home municipality of Hoogstraten. She was also alderman there between 2007 and 2012 and mayor between 2013 and 2018. About the local level, Rombouts says that “my commitment to Hoogstraten remains”.
The party is now looking for a new leader for the Flemish list in Antwerp. The search has now started. The intention is to come up with a new name after New Year, says CD&V.
