“Volksraadplegingen over fusies moeten bindend worden”
![Foto: iStock. “Volksraadplegingen over fusies moeten bindend worden”](/sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w28/public/2023-09/iStock-1277965612%20%282%29.jpg?h=d4862d22&itok=1AoH0rBe 28w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w33/public/2023-09/iStock-1277965612%20%282%29.jpg?h=d4862d22&itok=JeUBW8Wf 33w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w39/public/2023-09/iStock-1277965612%20%282%29.jpg?h=d4862d22&itok=qD8q2Ylc 39w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w47/public/2023-09/iStock-1277965612%20%282%29.jpg?h=d4862d22&itok=nADPWhfM 47w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w56/public/2023-09/iStock-1277965612%20%282%29.jpg?h=d4862d22&itok=S5zQ8fFm 56w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w66/public/2023-09/iStock-1277965612%20%282%29.jpg?h=d4862d22&itok=ivI9B5rv 66w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w67/public/2023-09/iStock-1277965612%20%282%29.jpg?h=d4862d22&itok=i2zOBI0m 67w, 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Het Vlaams Belang wil de invoering van bindende volksraadplegingen voor belangrijke zaken zoals een fusie van gemeenten. “Met bindende referenda worden de wensen van de burger gerespecteerd”, zegt Vlaams Parlementslid Yves Buysse. “Het voorbije weekend verwierpen de Borsbekenaren met een overweldigende meerderheid een aanhechting van hun gemeente bij Antwerpen. Maar omdat volksraadplegingen in dit land niet bindend zijn, kan het gemeentebestuur van Borsbeek de volkswil nog steeds naast zich neerleggen.”
“Directe democratie door middel van volksraadplegingen vormt niet alleen een nuttige aanvulling op het systeem van representatieve democratie”, aldus Buysse. “Het biedt ook een kans om de diepe kloof tussen burger en politiek te dichten. Door middel van deelname aan volksraadplegingen kunnen burgers immers hun mening kenbaar maken aan de politici. Het is dan aan de politici om een niet door de bevolking gedragen beleid stop te zetten of bij te sturen.” Voor het Vlaams Parlementslid zou er, met een afkeuring door maar liefst 77 procent van de inwoners van Borsbeek, geen sprake meer mogen zijn van een fusie met Antwerpen.
“Borsbeek zei duidelijk neen tegen de import van de Antwerpse grootstedelijke problemen”
“Volksraadplegingen betrekken burgers sterk bij het maatschappelijk debat”, aldus nog Buysse. “Het democratische burgerschap wordt alleen maar versterkt wanneer mensen actiever betrokken worden bij het democratische besluitvormingsproces.” Nu de bevolking van Borsbeek duidelijk heeft laten horen niet gediend te zijn van een import van de Antwerpse grootstedelijke problematiek, heeft de gemeenteraad volgens het Vlaams Belang geen andere keuze meer dan een streep te trekken over de fusieplannen. Vandaag bestaat immers nog steeds de kans dat de Antwerpse annexatieplannen toch worden doorgezet en dat de Borsbekenaren gewoon in hun gezicht zullen worden uitgelachen.
“Het Vlaams Belang is al lang voorstander van bindende volksraadplegingen voor belangrijke zaken, zoals over de EU of over migratie”, besluit Buysse. “Maar ook lokale zaken zoals de fusie van gemeenten kunnen hiervoor voldoende belangrijk zijn.”