An objection filed by former Tielt-Winge mayor Rudi Beeken with the Election Dispute Council has been rejected.
The Council’s ruling, announced on Thursday, confirmed the dismissal of Beeken’s arguments against recently elected mayor Katrien Houtmeyers (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA), who is also a member of the Flemish Parliament.
Beeken did not contest the election results, but criticised Houtmeyers’ campaign methods. He accused her of handing out pizzas during a serious fire, sponsoring a campaign-related event during the restricted period, not declaring all campaign expenses, using a parliamentary assistant for her campaign, and misusing a family-owned leaflet.
In the municipal elections on 13 October, Beeken’s liberal-independent party Wij Tielt-Winge narrowly won against N-VA, securing 30.1% of the vote and 7 out of 21 council seats.
However, after two weeks of coalition negotiations, Beeken failed to form a coalition. Consequently, the initiative passed to Houtmeyers, who formed a coalition with CD&V, Groenen and Vooruit.
On 27 November, Beeken formally objected, citing the alleged campaign violations by Houtmeyers. However, the Election Dispute Council dismissed all his claims.
“Hopefully, the negativity in our village can now end,” Mayor Houtmeyers responded.
