New coalition presents agreement: “Building on what makes Sittard-Geleen strong”

Press release from the Municipality of Sittard-Geleen – Sittard-Geleen will have a new governing coalition. GOB, CDA, PRO, and D66 have reached an agreement under the title “Verder bouwen aan wat Sittard-Geleen sterk maakt” (in English: “Building on what makes Sittard-Geleen strong”).

The draft coalition agreement reflects pride in our municipality and emphasises what unites us. The guiding principle for the next four years is therefore: “Together.” Together as a municipal government, but certainly also together with residents, entrepreneurs, and other partners.

The agreement also includes the ambition to strengthen Sittard-Geleen’s central position in the region. The coalition partners have chosen to increase the municipality’s capacity and take on a stronger role within the region, in The Hague, and beyond in order to represent the interests of its residents.

The four parties are building on the cooperation established during the previous city council term, in which they worked effectively and constructively together on important issues. According to the parties, their policy similarities and the election results make this coalition a logical next step.

The coalition will focus on broad themes such as housing, the economy, green spaces and nature, sports, culture, and municipal accommodation. At the same time, the coalition will collaborate on other issues, including the energy transition, public safety, city marketing, and citizen participation. They will also make sure that there is sufficient flexibility to make adjustments wherever necessary.

A significant change is the expansion of the number of aldermen in the municipal executive from 5 to 6.5 FTE, enabling Sittard-Geleen to better fulfil its regional centre role. Additional efforts will be devoted to lobbying and public affairs, within the (Eu)region as well as in The Hague and Europe.

“With this agreement, we demonstrate that we are jointly taking responsibility for the future of Sittard-Geleen. We are building on what has already been achieved while maintaining the flexibility to make improvements where needed,” said Alderman Leon Geilen, speaking on behalf of the new coalition.

The coalition is mindful of the impact of current social developments. Issues such as financial security, the business climate, mental health, and trust in the local government will receive particular attention. “We are confident that we can realise our ambitions in the interests of our residents and within the available financial means,” said Geilen.

The Aldermen in the new municipal executive will be sworn in on Thursday, 11 June, during the council meeting (starting at 6:30 p.m.), which can be followed via sittard-geleen.nl.

The proposed coalition agreement can be found here (in Dutch only).

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