THE WEEK OF SACHA. “How can you still enjoy doing this job?” (Antwerp)
“How can you keep doing that job of a political journalist in these times?” I got that question several times this week. And I understand where she comes from. In recent days, politics has not shown its best side.
The whole discussion about the aldermen’s offices, Open Vld leader Willem-Frederik Schiltz and the place of Open Vld within the Antwerp coalition is an example of power politics in its ugliest form. The liberals, the smallest partner in the coalition, have been put against the wall and stripped by N-VA and Vooruit. An agreement has been reached that the three parties concluded in 2018. The fact that everyone was a winner and that Open Vld came out stronger on the actual about the new agreement has been made clear to the intelligence of all those involved.
In his last council committee as alderman, Claude Marinower (Open Vld) clearly had something to say. In a discussion about budgets for unemployed young people, which is an accepted debate, his colleague from education Jinnih Beels (Vooruit) accused him of not keeping vulnerable young people awake. Anyone who knows Marinower knows such a message in the depths of his soul. In his previous position as Alderman for Education, he clearly showed his empathy for children and young people in difficulty. This accusation was not appropriate, but it was made. Probably to elicit such a violent reaction from Marinower. Was this about young people? Or was this also a move to elicit an open crisis in the debate about the position of Open Vld within the coalition?
Surprised by Marinower’s vehemence in the council committee, Vooruit faction leader Hicham El Mzairh perhaps unintentionally gave the answer. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game,” he said. So El Mzairh recognizes that it was dirty play, but that it is now played that way. That is the reversal of the consequence. How a game is played depends on the players, not the game itself.
The political debate has hardened, also in Antwerp. Political matters attack each other based on the image they have of each other and not said on water. The best example are the debates about mobility between Alderman Koen Kennis (N-VA) and Green Municipal Councilor Wouter Van Besien. For years, the debates have ended with blaming each other. Green wants all cars gone versus N-VA is not worried about road safety. A substantive exchange of views with an open mind is an exception.
Then why do I still like doing it? Because it is important that Antwerp residents know what politicians do with their vote. Because there are still many politicians who conduct a substantive debate with respect, such as Claude Marinower, Imade Anuri (Green), Annick De Ridder (N-VA) and Tom Meeuws (Vooruit). Because I am still convinced that a large majority of Antwerp politicians make this commitment from the unwavering conviction that they want to make the city of Antwerp a better place. But I admit that after about a week I sometimes have doubts about the latter.