As a reminder, OLLN 2.0 (MR) has signed a majority agreement with Avenir and the PS. From then on, Julie Chantry (Écolo) will no longer be mayor. She will soon be replaced by Nicolas Van der Maren (OLLN 2.0).
“This Wednesday, January 19, 2022, the political groups OLLN 2.0-MR, Avenir (cdH) and PS of the municipal council of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve concluded a new majority agreement, ending the current coalition” , indicated the three political groups. In our columns, Julie Chantry, outgoing green mayor, said she was flabbergasted. “I do not understand. I have had no contact, I have no information on why.”
By press release, the one who now finds herself in the opposition wanted to give her version of the facts.
“As you know, the City is going through an area of political turbulence. It’s not my style to hide the truth. So I’m not going to deny that there are files on which the 3 majority groups have differences. It’s normal, it’s part of the life of any local, regional or federal majority. Are these differences really likely to blow up the majority? No, certainly not “, writes Julie Chantry.
“So far we have been able to act in dialogue and mutual respect”, she continues. “We have great achievements to our credit (we have brought about major projects in a participatory manner, rethought mobility, invested in biodiversity, supported a progressive social policy, etc.) and we also have great projects ahead of us (the station and the redevelopment of the center of Ottignies, the future eco-district in Athéna-Lauzelle, the cycle highway to Wavre, etc. I am convinced that we can continue to carry them, to achieve them.”
“On the other hand, I have been hearing some rather implausible things for the past few hours, such as for example that Ecolo was negotiating a new majority with the MR, behind the backs of our majority partners. This is totally false, I hold to affirm it without any ambiguity: it is FALSE, archi false”, insists the environmental representative. “There is not an ounce of any beginning of negotiation whatsoever. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong with specific facts, not rumors or sayings or inappropriate interpretations.I understand that the MR is the basis of this maneuver and this attempt to destabilize the majority. It’s sad. Will this maneuver succeed? We will only know if a majority of the municipal council votes in the coming weeks for a new majority pact and a motion of no confidence in us. Only the legal act will count.”
She invites the Cdh (and the PS too) to “think carefully” . “Do they really prefer to form a new majority with the MR of Georges-Louis Bouchez? Is this what the City needs? Is this the “signal” they want to send today? she asks.
“For my part, I have voluntarily remained publicly silent for the past few hours. But silent does not mean inactive. In particular, I took the initiative of inviting my fellow College members to see us and talk to us quickly, frankly This meeting, accepted by each of the partners of the current majority, will aim to put things straight and prevent the majority in place from breaking up on the basis of an untruth launched by the MR. tell you again, I am convinced that we can do it.Ecolo is a loyal partner; he deserves this minimum of respect”, she wrote.