The liberal party branch of Open VLD in the City of Brussels (Bruxelles 1000) is pushing for renewal by changing its name to Open BXL ahead of the local elections in October.
Open BXL's five Dutch-speaking candidates join the bilingual MR+ list for the City of Brussels, led by mayoral candidate David Weytsman (MR).
In early July, the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking liberals in Brussels already communicated that they would go to the polls together in October. Under the name MR+, the liberals want to "neutralise the risk of a hard left majority of PS-Ecolo and PTB," list leader Weytsman explained at the time.
Meanwhile, it has become clear which Dutch-speaking liberals will join the bilingual local list. Frederik Ceulemans, who until recently was the spokesperson and urban planning adviser for the liberal group in the Brussels parliament, will be the first Dutch-speaking candidate to stand in 11th place on the list.
He is followed by new candidate Charlotte Schoefs, who was born and raised in Laeken and will be ranked 30th on the bilingual list.
A nationwide fusion?
Frédéric De Gucht, one of the candidate party leaders and son of veteran Karel De Gucht, follows in 33rd place. "De Gucht has been living in the centre for more than 20 years and wants to implement the renewal operation of Open VLD in the City of Brussels nationally as well," a press release reads.
Additionally, Dominique Verbesselt from Neder-Over-Heembeek and Frederic Masil, manager of a real estate office in the centre and living in Laeken, also feature on the list – in places 40 and 45.
"I believe that with our five top candidates, we can put our city safe and in order again," Ceulemans said. Open BXL wants to "fill the role of the city government differently and more clearly," he added.
