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At MR, Robert Delvigne made the decision to step aside. Not only will he not be an alderman, but he will also give up his mandate as municipal councilor to be hired in the cabinet of mayor Marie-Christine Marghem. His running mate Philippe Malice will join the municipal council.
Rémy Brotcorne, brother of Benjamin, future first alderman of the MR-Engagés-Ecolo coalition, cannot sit on the municipal council despite his very good score (682 votes in preference). It is Sabine Tomme who will take the oath during the installation of the new municipal council.
Seventeen municipal councilors will no longer sit
Paul-Olivier Delannois paid tribute at the September municipal council, the last before the elections, to eleven municipal councilors who would no longer stand in the elections and would therefore leave the Tournaisian political chamber. They were Louis Cousaert (PS), Geoffroy Huez (PS), Brieuc Lavallée (MR), Virginie Lolliot (PS), Benoît Mat (MR), Flavien Nyemb (Ensemble), Didier Smette (PS), Elise Neyrinck ( Ensemble), Bernard Tambour (PS), Jean-Michel Van de Cauter (Ensemble) and Jean-Louis Vieren (MR).
A tribute paid to eleven Tournaisian municipal councilors who will no longer stand in the elections
Mr. Delannois, who will find himself in opposition with his socialist running mates, welcomed a series of municipal councilors not elected during the October election: Loïs Petit (PS), Jean-François Letulle (Ecolo), Xavier Decaluwé (Ecolo ), François Lebrun (independent), Benoît Dochy (Ecolo) and Dominique Martin (PTB).
“Mr. Mayor, at Paul-Olivier’s, thank you for your commitment to Tournai”
Philippe Robert, first alderman, said a few words to Paul-Olivier Delannois for his commitment to serving the people of Tournais. “This mandate was truly unique in more than one way. Indeed, we were faced with the Covid crisis and that of inflation. Major challenges faced us and as mayor, you were able to lead, in perfect collaboration with the administrative and technical services, the public policies that should be applied in such situations. We all remember here the rapid establishment of the major vaccination center which made it possible to participate in the national effort to save lives. Tournai was recognized for the efficiency of its center. This recognition was a welcome light breaking through the distressing fog that sometimes weighed on our lives and further energizing the healthcare team in place.”
Despite the extremely difficult context that the country’s municipalities are experiencing on a budgetary level, some great projects have seen the light of day in Tournai, recalls Mr. Robert. “The Tournai of 2024 no longer resembles the Tournai of 2018, certainly. The station area, rue Royale, the platforms on both banks, the Pont des Trous and its surroundings, village squares, the cloth hall, as well as other monuments and places have been restored to make Tournai a pleasant city to live in and visit. […] Mr. Mayor, dear Paul-Olivier, thank you for your commitment to Tournai!”
: Tribute to Departing Municipal Councilors
As a website editor for world-today-news.com, I would like to conduct an interview with two guests about the recently decided mayoral changes in Tournai, Belgium. In this interview, we will discuss the resignation of Mayor Robert Delvigne and the appointment of Philippe Malice to the municipal council. We will also touch on the topic of the tribute paid to eleven municipal councilors who are leaving their positions. To provide a balanced viewpoint, I have invited Philippe Robert, first alderman of Tournai and a representative from the Democratic Movement (MR), and Loïs Petit, a member of the Socialist Party (PS) who is not standing for re-election.
Part 1: The Decision of Mayor Robert Delvigne to Step Aside
Interviewer: Can you please tell us more about the decision made by Mayor Robert Delvigne to resign from his position? How does this impact the Democratic Movement (MR) in Tournai?
Philippe Robert: Certainly, Mayor Delvigne decided to step down for personal reasons. He wanted to focus on his professional career and family life. His decision was made in full agreement with the MR party. As for me, I feel that this opens up opportunities for new dynamics and leadership within the party.
Loïs Petit: I know Paul-Olivier Delannois personally, and I respect his decision. It’s not always easy to manage a mandate at the municipal level, especially when you have a young family. However, for the PS, it’s a bit of a loss because he was a strong and experienced leader.
Interviewer: Does the appointment of Philippe Malice to the municipal council reflect any changes in the political direction of the Democratic Movement in Tournai?
Philippe Robert: Philippe Malice, as Robert’s running mate, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. He has been actively involved in the MR at the local and regional levels for many years. His presence in the municipal council will ensure continuity and stability in our political direction.
Loïs Petit: I think we can expect a similar political direction from the new mayor and municipality. Nevertheless, every new councilor brings their own unique perspectives and ideas, which can lead to interesting discussions and debates within the party.
Part 2
