Socialist Party (PS) president Paul Magnette says he will decide after the summer whether to run for re-election as mayor of Charleroi at local elections on 13 October.
In the meantime, Magnette is set to be sworn in at the Chamber, following his election on 9 June. "I will take the oath at the federal parliament," he said, adding: "I will be on leave from my mayoral duties over the holiday, as I do every summer. Then, we'll decide at the end of summer."
Under the party’s internal rules, Magnette cannot be a federal parliamentarian and mayor of Charleroi at the same time.
The PS is now the second largest French-speaking party and has decided to sit in opposition at all levels of power. However, options remain open in Brussels-Capital Region.
Directing his comments at the leader of the Brussels Region, he said: "It so happens that Ecolo and DéFI have decided to go into opposition. There’s hardly anyone left to govern Brussels. We are a responsible party. We won’t paralyse institutions. If the socialists are needed, we will step up… but not to do just anything."
Magnette warned that his party would not support proposals it disagrees with, listing free public transport, social housing, and wages as key issues for the PS.
