WHO FOLLOWS BORSBEEK TO ANTWERP? Eleven mayors have their say: “We will not let De Wever rush us” | Antwerp
AntwerpWill Antwerp get an eleventh of a twelfth district after Borsbeek? Gráág, if it depends on mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA). But how do the neighboring municipalities feel about a marriage proposal? Or would they rather make love to a smaller partner than Antwerp? We made the rounds with eleven mayors. Conclusion: De Wever still has to win quite a few hearts. “The question is with whom you can keep your individuality.”
Philippe Truyts, Grâce Verellen, Ewoud Meeusen, Ben Conaerts, Kristof Pieters, Sander Bral
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09:05
Flemish Minister of Internal Affairs Bart Somers (Open Vld) starts term for about 150 municipalities in Flanders, halving the current number. Norm for a merger: at least 20,000 inhabitants. Flanders also gives a bag of money. If Antwerp and Borsbeek get married by 2025, they will earn no less than 50 million euros. Antwerp’s debt suddenly melts away by a fifth. The larger the merged municipality, the more debt reduction per inhabitant. But for a municipality of 20,000 million inhabitants, that is quickly 4 euros.
It is always interesting to even include the map of the Antwerp region. The municipalities in the northern fringe and most of the fewer inhabitants are smaller than the 20,000 limit. Fusion seems a lot more logical at first glance. One municipality is a special case: Zwijndrecht. Geographical part of the Waasland, but not yet appropriate to the province of Antwerp.
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