Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem swore in 23 new Eindhoven city councillors on Wednesday evening. So, newcomers make up about half the city council. A jubilant atmosphere filled the room as friends and family cheered for both new and incumbent representatives. As a welcome gift, every councillor received a copy of the book The Vibe by author Peter Kentie.
Age and gender distribution
The council’s average age dropped slightly by 0.5 years, from 43.6 to 43.1 years. Nicolas Knoester of the Forum voor democratie party remains the youngest councillor at 22, while Bep van de Wiel-Dinslage from 50PLUS now serves as the oldest member of the local government.
Gender representation also saw a slight shift compared to 2022. With the addition of one woman, the council now consists of 19 women and 26 men. Four current alderpersons (wethouders), Rik Thijs and Samir Toub from the PRO party, alongside Remco van Dooren and Stijn Steenbakkers from the CDA, also took their oaths as councillors. If these four return to their executive roles in the new college of mayor and alderpersons, four new members will join the council to replace them.
Diverse Council
The new council brings a diverse range of priorities to the city. Zepnep Demir, a PRO candidate elected via preferential voting, plans to champion youth issues and initiatives. Gisele Mambre intends to focus on diversity and women’s safety, while Alina Totti (D66) will advocate for the rights of immigrant labourers. The council also regained Marieke van Gastel, a representative for people with disabilities and part of the VVD faction. Ines Lapenta Viale, a Spanish teacher and mother of Nicolas Knoester, joined the council for the first time, and so did Chaitali Sengupta, clad in an ethnic saree. Additionally, the newly formed party EVE, led by its representative Ritmeester, will continue to address concerns regarding housing distribution.
The new councillors will spend the next month attending introductory sessions and briefings. Their first official council meeting is scheduled for 26 May.
NEWS BRAINPORT
