This week we meet Viviane Dessart, who has represented the people of Visé for 20 years.
Visé is located on the banks of the Meuse in the province of Liège, on the border with the Netherlands.
Her list aims to go from 7 to 9 seats in the next municipal election. Let's talk to her about her motivations, priorities and upcoming challenges.
Viviane, you first stood as a candidate in 1994 and were elected as a CPAS councillor, then as a municipal councillor. In 2000 you became an alderwoman, again in 2006, again in 2012, and in 2018 you became mayor. What were your motivations when you were first elected in 1994?
My motivation for my first campaign was to stand on a list that represented the values I championed and for which, at the family level, we were already committed.
For the following elections, I had developed a taste for it, and my motivation kept growing: being with citizens, meeting them, listening to them and helping them with certain matters.
Then, as an alderwoman, I had the pleasure of getting involved in numerous matters. My motivation remains just as strong to this day!
You have now represented the people of Visé for 20 years and have been mayor for 6 years. What is your fondest memory in politics?
There are plenty of memories… Simply linked to my election results, which have never weakened but, on the contrary, kept growing!
I love election campaigns and getting citizens to embrace my party's values. My constant presence on the ground is certainly the main reason for that.
But the fondest memory is the day of my swearing-in as mayor and the welcome I received that day from a packed hall of residents of Visé.
If the people of Visé place their trust in you again next October, what will be your priority matters, the main challenges you'll need to tackle?
During this term, numerous projects have been carried out, whether sporting, cultural or environmental.
But my priority for the next term, given the changing climate, is to set up a study that will help protect our many citizens affected by the torrential rains we are experiencing. The environment is my priority!
The traditional closing tourist question: what would you recommend visiting in Visé?
Beyond our museums and Visé's historic guilds in the town centre, Visé is packed with extraordinary spots: the Meuse, which runs through our town, is lined by the RAVEL path, which will take you from Cheratte to the Montagne Saint-Pierre, an exceptional site, on foot or by bike.
Otherwise, simply pass through Visé and stop to sit at one of our many terraces.