About the surveys
The surveys are put together by the major media outlets ahead of elections. For the federal election earlier in the year, the Flemish version was completed 5 million times! So they are popular.
Now, there are also surveys available for the provincial and communal elections.
For the communal elections, the national broadcaster VRT chooses not to participate. They state that it’s too hard to independently verify answers and issues on the local level, so they can’t guarantee the quality of the tests. With 300 communes across Flanders alone, it’s easy to understand why.
Taking the surveys is an opportunity to explore some of the local issues, but as you’ll see below, in just 25 questions, they cover only a few of the local issues. And some seem oddly specific. Nevertheless, it can serve as a launching pad for your research into local parties and some of the local issues that are being discussed.
At the end of the survey, you can play around with the comparator tool to see how different parties compare on the 25 issues that are included and get a feel for the parties you’ll be able to vote for.
We strongly recommend that you research a bit further into the parties you can vote for - use the survey just as a light-hearted opportunity to start exploring local politics. You could do it over a drink with your friends and start a discussion - we certainly learned from each other while trying to understand the issues when we tested the surveys in the office!
Where to find them
The survey is available on different media outlets, for example:
Leuven
Leuven GemeenteStemtest 2024 - Het Nieuwsblad (Same as de Standaard)
Select your commune
Since the time of writing, more Stemtests have come out:
- Stemtest - Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN)
- Stem Check - Knack (register for free to take their test)
The issues discussed in the Leuven survey (De Standaard version)
Automatic translations of the stemtest are varied in quality, so we have pulled out and translated the questions and any provided explainer text here.
We cannot give any context around these issues as we must remain impartial - but hope that by providing translations, it will help you with your research and to complete the survey. Have fun!
Each statement can be rated on four metrics: Totally disagree, somewhat disagree, somewhat agree, totally agree.
- The city should organize more referenda.
What is a referendum?
During a referendum, residents are given the opportunity to give their opinion on a specific question or problem about legislation. An example is the bridge that they wanted to build in Antwerp for the Oosterweel connection. Residents can then vote in the voting booth whether they are for or against. The result is not binding, which means that the government is not obliged to follow the result.
2. The rules for the paving of private property must be more strictly controlled.
What is “paving of private property”?
If you pave the ground on your property, you can, for example, construct a concrete or asphalt driveway. It emits a lot of heat during hot weather and is not sustainable. If a lot of water falls, flooding can also occur. The rainwater all flows into the sewers to the sea, and that is where things sometimes go wrong. We have had a groundwater shortage in Flanders for years and the less water that can seep into the soil, the less our groundwater reserves can be replenished. That is why some municipalities monitor this strictly.
3. Anyone who receives a living wage must perform a number of tasks in the city.
What is a living wage?
A living wage is a monthly amount that people can receive to survive. The OCMW [Public Social Welfare Center] pays this out after investigating whether you have insufficient resources to survive. It is a minimum benefit. You can only receive this if it turns out that you are not entitled to other benefits or do not receive a salary.
4. The Vismarkt must be made completely car-free.
5. The city must organize more childcare itself.
6. A parking lot must be built in the InterLeuven building next to the Bruul Park.
7. The city must allow more high-rise buildings.
8. The city must place a nativity scene in the city hall.
9. The city must clear illegally parked bicycles in the public domain more often.
10. Children who live close to the school should be given priority when registering.
[IHL info: Currently, the school allocation algorithm, takes into account the distance either from your home or workplace]
11. The Parkveld area along the Geldenaaksebaan in Heverlee may be built on (at least partially).
[IHL info: Parkveld is an open piece of land by the ice skating rink. There is an ongoing debate on whether this land can be built on or not.]
12. Taxes must decrease tangibly in the next legislature.
What are taxes?
Taxes are levied by municipalities to finance local services and facilities, such as waste collection, street lighting, and maintenance of roads and parks. [IHL info: in Leuven, taxes also fund many events and cultural activities.]
13. Leuven must merge with Herent.
[IHL info: Wijgmaal used to be part of Herent, but in 1977 it became part of Leuven.]
14. Municipal schools that offer hot food may also provide halal meat.
What is halal-meat?
Halal meat is meat that has been slaughtered according to certain Islamic laws. The animal must be slaughtered with a cut in the neck with a sharp knife, this concerns a limited number of animals such as cattle, sheep.
15. The 30km/h Zone in the sub-municipalities must be scaled back.
16. The city must invest more resources in a nightclub for young people at Stelplaats.
17. More parking spaces for short-term parking should be created on the edge of car-free and car-light zones.
18. To combat vacancy, starting retailers must receive a subsidy.
What is a subsidy?
It is a contribution from the government to financially support a specific project or initiative. The government can choose to provide a subsidy to help a specific group of people, to stimulate innovation or to solve a problem. It often concerns a one-off amount, or an amount for a short period of time. Examples include theater or musical performances or public transport.
19. The police station on the Grote Markt must again be open day and night.
20. The city must provide (more) subsidies to make houses more energy efficient.
What is a subsidy?
It is a contribution from the government to financially support a specific project or initiative. The government can choose to provide a subsidy to help a specific group of people, to stimulate innovation or to solve a problem. It often concerns a one-off amount, or an amount for a short period of time. Examples include theater or musical performances or public transport.
21. The city must build a 50 meter swimming pool in Kessel-Lo.
22. The city must work to counteract large stores outside the city center.
23. Parking in the city should become cheaper.
24. The city must issue GAS fines to young people who make excessive noise in public spaces.
What is a GAS fine?
GAS fines stand for ‘Municipal Administrative Sanctions’. Municipalities can fine people who cause a nuisance. For example, illegal dumping, illegal parking or urination in public, this may also apply to certain minor speeding offences. The police or an authorized official can impose a fine of up to 350 euros on the basis of police regulations.
25. The city must cut as many residential expansion areas as it can while it’s still possible.
What are “residential expansion areas”?
These are usually plots of land, on which construction is still allowed, located in or close to established residential areas. Primarily they are back-up areas for residential expansion. The municipality must decide whether to allow development in these areas.