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Thielemans confirms departure in December

12:25 05/11/2013

Brussels-City mayor Freddy Thielemans has confirmed that he will leave office in December, handing over the chain of office to his long-rumoured successor Yvan Mayeur, chairman of the city's social aid agency CPAS.

Thielemans' departure plans were leaked some months ago, but were denied at the time. Now, the mayor explains he is leaving because, as he told one paper, “I'm getting too old”. To another he explained, “It's time to make way for someone younger”. Thielemans is 69. He became mayor in 2001, succeeding François-Xavier De Donnea, having previously served for a short time in 1994 as a stop-gap after Michel Demaret stepped down as a result of a legal investigation against him.

Thielemans (pictured in 2006) was described as “a pure-bred Brusseleer and a man of the people” by political opponent Bianca Debaets of CD&V. Coalition members Ecolo/Groen welcomed the announcement as an end to the doubt over Thielemans' intentions, since rumours of his departure first surfaced in August.

Thielemans denied he had misled voters by standing down after only one year in his third six-year term of office, an accusation made by federal minister and city council member Joëlle Milquet. According to Milquet, the PS used Thielemans as a cover to place the much less well-known and popular Mayeur in the mayor's office.

“There's never a good time to announce you're leaving,” Thielemans said.

Written by Alan Hope