Vincent Van Quickenborne: 130 nationalities in our city... what a wealth

Kortrijk Vincent Van Quickenborne (Team Mayor) is ready for six exciting years. He covers this time itself the pressure off by focusing on diversity and integration. “Kortrijk has 130 nationalities. That is a huge wealth. Just look at our children: they know of no distinction in origin. I'm not by the extreme right-wing influence, without to be naive indeed.” Children are central in the bestuursakkoord. Why?

“We need to listen more to our children and through their eyes dare to look, because the truth comes from a hasn't anything on. So annoyed they go to the fact that our town is not just enough. They have notes on empty cans and cigarette butts everywhere on the ground around the place. They are together with their parents also worried about their safety when they go to school cycling. I am also more busy now that my daughter Bo will for the first time to primary school Land at Sint-Anna. Hence, besides our plan to bicycle streets, in the interest of the safety of our children.”

Has fatherhood changed you as a politician?

“I am particularly changed as a politician since I have been mayor. As a Flemish and federal parliament you will see ‘left’ and ‘right’ as a classic opposites. At the local level parties are less diametrically opposed to each other. But children have no effect on me has had as a politician, I can not say. I look with other eyes to the things, with a greater concern and anxiety. Recently I was on the road on the bike when I some young people saw cycling without a light. I inform them on the matter addressed. Guys, don't...”

Why bet on diversity and integration?

“We have 130 nationalities in our city more play. Why not Moroccan stand-upcomedian on the program of the municipal Theatre? That diversity will not disappear hey, look at the composition of many classes in primary education. But I'm also not naive. All Kortrijkzanen should the Dutch are powerful and need to perform their duties. Problems cover I do not, I come on when needed. Because there is a small minority that causes the problems in our city. So have I the last legislature, stores temporarily closing. There were some popular cases, such as in the Zwevegemsestraat (where Rahman Supermarket close was due to repeated infringements, ed.).”

Where are we with the sensitive issue of the mosque?

“We follow it thoroughly. The new mosque is planned in the Brugsesteenweg, where supermarket Bio-Planet it was. Thus, the mobility has been well arranged to the fear of local residents around parkeeroverlast to address. I expect soon a bouwvergunningaanvraag of the moskeebestuur. I keep repeating that it would be good as a mosque Atakwa is recognised by the Flemish government. Or we Kortrijkzanen should decide whether a mosque there, appropriate or not? I am open to all religious and ideological communities and respect the freedom of religion. Whom the mosque on crime and Syriëstrijders link to, spreading knowingly false info. What the extreme right says, I'm not going to thought of change. I repeat: diversity is an asset. I think that a mosque at that location. The Brugsesteenweg is a place where already a lot of people with a migration background live.”

We need to listen more to our children and through their eyes dare to look, because the truth comes from a hasn't anything on. So annoyed they go to the fact that our town is not just enough.

Vincent Van Quickenborne,

are you a believer?

“We are for the married in church and our daughter Bo was baptized. I also occasionally went to mass. Our dean is a fascinating man. I think faith is valuable because the church gives you a certain peace. Maybe that's an atypical response for a politician, because I have the impression that politicians are increasingly non-religious. I have my doubts about the institution of the Church. There is too little innovation in. People have no message to the church time and time again the same stories to hear. That can be better. Insert the new philosophers of today in the churches of tomorrow the churches will once again flooding.”