Ghent city council member resigns, citing work-life balance challenges

Isabelle Heyndrickx, a prominent figure in Ghent's local politics and the CD&V faction leader, has announced her resignation from the city council. The decision comes as she finds the demands of her professional career, political engagement, and family responsibilities increasingly challenging to manage simultaneously.

“

The combination of my current job (Heyndrickx is general director Agency for Integration and Civic Integration, ed.), my engagement for the city, my family, that is starting to weigh heavily sometimes.

Heyndrickx, who also serves as the general director of the Agency for Integration and Civic Integration, stated that the combination of her demanding job, her commitment to the city, and her family life has become "a bit too heavy to bear." She expressed a feeling that she could no longer fulfill her council duties to the standard she desired while managing these other significant commitments.

The resignation is not a reflection of any dissatisfaction with the CD&V party, of which Heyndrickx has been a dedicated member. While acknowledging that the opposition role differs from her previous position as an alderman, she clarified that this was not the decisive factor. She noted that being an alderman allows for full-time political focus, whereas combining it with another daily job presents greater challenges.

“

I had the feeling that I could not do the mandate the way I wanted to do it.

Heyndrickx has formally submitted her resignation to the council's chairman. The necessary procedures are now underway, and her successor, Xanthippe van de Guchte, is expected to be sworn in during the September council meeting. The question of who will assume Heyndrickx's role as the CD&V faction leader within the city council is currently under discussion among the four faction members.

“

I have always been a member of my party with great conviction and I will remain so.