Federal Minister for Asylum and Migration Sammy Mahdi is running unopposed to succeed outgoing leader Joachim Coens at the helm of the Flemish Christian Democratic Party (CD&V), the party announced on Monday.
Mahdi is expected to take on the gauntlet as the new CD&V leader on June 25 at a party event in Plopsaland, after being the only candidate to put forward his name before the deadline this morning. Although Mahdi previously served as youth president of the party, it is yet to be seen how much support he will have from the CD&V party membership.
A historic low
Mahdi will likely succeed Joachim Coens, who announced his retirement earlier than anticipated after a dramatic poll revealed that the party achieved just 8.7% of votes in an annual opinion poll by De Standaard and VRT NWS. The result was seen as a historic low for the party.
Candidates had until 09:30 Monday morning to announce their candidacy. Once the new leader is selected, it will then become clear who will succeed Mahdi as the new Minister for Asylum and Migration. The leader makes a proposal, which will then be ratified by a majority in the party council.
CD&V members can vote for their new leader until June 24 and the results will be announced on June 25. Mahdi will need at least half of the votes to win the post.
