The leader of the Open Vld group in the House, Egbert Lachaert, was elected in the first round by a large majority of activists for the presidency of the Flemish liberal party, succeeding Gwendolyn Rutten for a five-year term. had already faced in 2012, said party leadership on Friday. Mr. Lachaert, 42, obtained 9,784 votes from party members, or 61.03% of the votes cast. His main rival, the former federal secretary of state, Flemish minister and current burgomaster of Ostend, Bart Tommelein, won only 9,784 votes (29.74%).
A total of 16,128 party members cast a valid vote. They had until Friday noon to do so.
The election for the president of Open Vld, interrupted in March following the coronavirus crisis, resumed on Monday. Voting took place electronically or by telephone.
Four candidates, Egbert Lachaert, Bart Tommelein, Els Ampe and Stefaan Nuytten, clashed to succeed Mrs Rutten at the head of the Flemish liberals.
The last two candidates obtained respectively 1,172 votes (7.31%) for Mrs Ampe and 307 votes (1.92%) for Mr Nuytten, according to the complete results published by the party.
In a first reaction, Mr. Lachaert said he wanted to give “stronger accents” to the Liberal message, while also wishing to work towards making Open Vld a “broad liberal party”.
A party convention is expected to be held in the fall to refine the structure and content of the program.
Mr Tommelein, who was a favorite, admitted his defeat. “The members have decided. Democracy has been expressed clearly,” he said, hoping that the party would take the path of “broad popular liberalism”.
Ms. Rutten, who is mayor of Aarschot (Flemish Brabant) and sits in the Flemish parliament, has served two terms as head of the Open Vld, more than seven years. She was elected to this position in December 2012.
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