The congress of sp.a Antwerp after a long meeting the ontwerpbestuursakkoord of N-VA, sp.a and Open Vld approved, despite a lot of internal headwinds. Also N-VA and previously Open Vld gifts in the meantime, the green light, so that the Antwerp Burgundian coalition may start.
The Antwerp sp.a-members, with a large majority for the agreement voted N-VA, sp.a and Open Vld yesterday suggested. The meeting was since 9.30 hours and the voltage was reportedly cut, but with 196 votes for and 78 against the agreement yet approved. The local Open Vld department had agreed earlier in the day unanimously approved, and also at N-VA, there was green light.
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The agreement was yesterday however immediately a lot of headwinds at the sp.a. Güler Turan, Flemish member of parliament and one of the six sp.a-people are elected in the Antwerp city council, called even openly to against the “social agreement” to vote. According to her, the sp.a-negotiators nothing won on the field of diversity. the
Turan was at the start of the meeting pleased with the turnout. “A great day for democracy. I am very happy to have so many people to see. Today I come especially to listen to. I’ve had my say done, now it is up to the members.” She called again to vote against it. “As a lawyer, as a politician, I am not here achterzetten.”
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member of the European parliament Kathleen van Brempt hopes in the long queue in the meantime still to persuade the people to agree to vote. “I am very excited. That it is a fully social agreement would be, is unthinkable and unrealistic. And yes, we’d prefer the ships of Mobility. But in the field of social affairs, we will really move forward.” Van Brempt, who for six years opposition, also knows the difference. “Now we are six years into the policy off, to keep watch over certain themes. Six years in the opposition is really terrible. You can achieve nothing. We have in 2012 to be rushed and to emotional reasoning. Now we need to do things differently.”