Tomorrow we will be able to become the largest party in Antwerp, Belgium’s second largest city and Europe’s second largest port. In the national elections in June our party got 24% of the votes in the city, making us the largest behind the current ruling neolibs (by only a few percent!).

For twelve years the neolibs have run this city. Budget cuts, exploding housing market, decline of infrastructure and public transport, decline of health care, just some of the things they manage to achieve. The city is longing for a change of politics.

Together with the Greens and the Socdems we were polled to reach 46% of the votes, almost enough for a majority. The polls are from a few weeks ago, though, and it is unclear what the polls would say now (they don’t allow them just before elections).

For months our members went out to talk to people in the streets, to bring around flyers, to set up actions. We collected thousands upon thousands of promises from people who are going to vote for us. In my years that I have been active for the party, I have never seen such a positive view in the streets when it comes to our party. We really are turning things around with the people of Antwerp. And that’s good to see, because we have put in an enormous effort over the years.

Mind you this is not a plea in favor of electoralism. We’d need to collaborate with socdems if we want to govern. This isn’t the goal of communisme of course. But in a really important European city we managed to get a marxist party to the top, and I think that’s hopeful.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings.