Dalhem, a charming rural municipality in the Pays de Herve, spans eight villages and hamlets, between farming tradition and a transition to modernity.
In October 2024, a new chapter opened with Benoît Defauwes taking the helm of the municipality. Standing for the first time, he was elected mayor outright, carried by the “Maïeur” list. A conversation with a new face in the area.
You became mayor the very first time you stood for election, which is quite rare. Could you introduce yourself briefly for those who don't know you yet, and tell us what prompted you to go into politics?
After earning a diploma in accounting and SME management, I took courses in taxation to deepen my skills.
As soon as I was old enough to vote, I chose the liberal party, drawn to its values of freedom, responsibility and initiative.
Professionally, I started at Générale de Banque before becoming an inspector for a life insurance company.
Almost 25 years ago, I took over a bank branch and an insurance office as a self-employed businessman. My wife is also self-employed, running two pharmacies in our municipality.
Alongside this, I have always been involved in the community and festive life of our villages.
I have always had a genuine interest in politics, which I see as a concrete tool for improving everyday life. Above all, I have a deep attachment to my municipality. Thirteen years ago, I told our regional MP, Arnaud DEWEZ, of my intention to one day stand for the local elections under the MR banner. Today, that commitment has become reality.
Taking charge of a municipality with no prior experience in an executive, or even on the municipal council, is a whole new world to discover. How are you experiencing your new role several months in, and what are your priorities?
Taking charge of a municipality without having previously sat on the council is indeed a real challenge. But my professional experience helped me a great deal in this transition. Running my own businesses gave me solid skills in accounting, taxation and staff management. Those skills proved useful in tackling municipal administration.
But I was also able to quickly rely on the support of my political group, MAIEUR, and on the expertise of the administration.
I'm also fortunate to be able to count on an important political link within our group: Arnaud DEWEZ, our regional and community MP. His presence greatly facilitates contact with the various levels of government and strengthens our effectiveness on the ground.
As for my priorities, they became obvious on their own. Dalhem was hit hard by the 2024 floods, and many residents are still feeling the effects. Tackling flooding is therefore an absolute priority. Next come security, and of course sound and responsible management of municipal finances, in the spirit of a good family man.
Dalhem is made up of several villages, each with its own identity. How do you intend to maintain a balance between them while developing a shared, unifying and ambitious project for the whole municipality?
Dalhem is a municipality rich in its villages, each with its own identity, history and dynamism. My role as mayor is precisely to respect these distinctive features.
One of the choices made by the MAIEUR group is to keep municipal schools in 6 of our villages. It's a significant budget, that's true, but for us, a school is the heart of a village. It's a place of life, of social connection, a landmark for residents.
We also support festival committees and sports clubs, essential for keeping the municipality lively, festive and united.
But the most ambitious project for the whole municipality remains tackling flooding, a priority since the 2024 floods.
But we continue to think as a whole municipality, with an overall vision. Road maintenance, for example, is based on the actual state of the roads, without favouritism. Budgets are managed responsibly, in the interest of all citizens, regardless of which village they live in. My goal is clear: preserve each village's distinctive character while building a shared, united and ambitious future.
Looking ahead to 2030, at the end of your term, what changes would you like the people of Dalhem to notice? What, in your view, would be the signs of a successful term?
The municipality has always been well managed by Arnaud DEWEZ and the previous team. I simply want to continue the sound, family-man style management that was practised before. I want to keep staying in touch with residents.
For the term to be a success, we need to find solutions to limit the risk of flooding in the future. We're working on it.