The health condition of Guy D’haeseleer, far-right mayor of Ninove remains critical.
Belgium's first ever far-right mayor has been in hospital for ten days, awaiting a life-saving liver transplant. He leads Forza Ninova, the local chapter of Vlaams Belang, and was only officially appointed mayor last month.
"It’s up and down. Yesterday, his blood levels were slightly up, but today they’re down again," said his stepdaughter Malika Sclacmender. "We knew a transplant was inevitable, so this isn’t a surprise."
On Friday morning, doctors confirmed that his blood levels have worsened.
"The results are negative, which means his condition is deteriorating,” Malika added. "We expected a transplant would be necessary, so this isn’t unexpected news."
She mentioned that while the levels are poor, they have a bit of leeway.
"Doctors say they might be able to wait another day, but certainly not a week. It has to happen soon, today or tomorrow."
The search for a suitable donor is ongoing through Eurotransplant, an international organ donation network.
D’haeseleer’s positive blood type is favourable, but the size of the donor organ must also match.
"There is hope, but no certainty. The first 24 hours of the typical 72-hour waiting period have passed. The next 48 hours are crucial."
Ships Ilse Malfroot takes up the duties of mayor Guy D'haeseleer in his absence. Succession has also been arranged in the far-right led municipal council. "There is a replacement so that the majority is maintained," says Sclacmender.
Far-right Forza Ninove gained an absolute majority in the city in October and is governing alone, but only has one seat over the required number on the city council.
However, Malfroot says that any voting agreements with the opposition are not yet on the table. ‘We are now mainly hoping for a speedy recovery for Guy.’
