Knokke-Heist –
Leopold Lippens (79), the flamboyant mayor of Knokke-Heist, is struggling with his health. He is undergoing treatment and has to slow down in the coming weeks. “The mayor will continue to attend the most important sessions,” he said.
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In recent days it was already announced that Lippens would have been hospitalized, but that admission was not corona-related. That started the rumor mill. The city council only confirms that the mayor has been struggling with health for a while. Lippens and his council prefer to keep the true facts private.
“He will still be attending the most important meetings and sittings, but in the coming weeks our mayor will have to slow down. He will remain our mayor in the field, ”said Piet De Groote (GBL), who did not elaborate on the situation.
The mayor would be fine under the circumstances. “I still spoke to him: he sounded very good,” said De Groote. “Because there were so many questions about his health, he wanted to communicate. He wants to reassure people. If necessary, he can be replaced by his first ships. We ask to respect the privacy of the mayor and to understand that he is not always available. ”
Lippens celebrated his 40th anniversary as mayor of Knokke-Heist last year. “I’m having fun: that’s my secret,” he said at the time. Lippens already underwent heart surgery several years ago and then promised that he would continue as mayor until he is 108 years old. In practice, however, the mayor still has no plans to resign. In October 2018, he received 7,420 preference votes in the municipal elections, 1,000 more than in 2012.
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