NovUM managed to win the votes of nearly two hundred FASoS students during the university elections last April, resulting in two seats for candidates Jules Boelens and Pierre Jault. The remaining three seats on the council went to members of the KAN party.
But before the first council meeting in September, the balance shifted to one against four seats: over the summer, Jault switched allegiances to KAN, where he also immediately became a member of the party board. “After the election results, I never heard from NovUM again,” he tells Observant. “Disappointing. The party is only active during elections, working to get as many votes as possible. I quickly realised that KAN members also work hard during the rest of the year, doing what they were elected to do: represent students.” He’s not concerned about voters feeling ‘betrayed’. “NovUM and KAM’s manifestoes are practically the same. I’ll just keep fighting for the same things on the council.”
Changing parties like that is allowed, Niels Harteman, Secretary to the Central Election Office, explains over the phone. “Just like in parliament, members are allowed to split off or change parties. Although I can’t remember that ever happening at UM before.”
Lack of time
It means NovUM is no longer represented on the FASoS council, because the only remaining member, Jules Boelens, failed to show up to the first council meetings. He also failed to attend any of the weekly meetings of student representatives, says Karlijn Haagsman, chair (and member for academic staff). The reason given is a lack of time. He recently resigned his seat completely, NovUM chair Olga Kosjakova confirmed. Boelens himself was unable to be reached for comment this week.
The question remains whether anyone will succeed him. The two remaining NovUM candidates on the ballot, Niklas Erkes and Beti Ceban, are unlikely to step up. “Niklas has become a member of a Programme Committee in the meantime. Combining the two might lead to a conflict of interest, and take up too much time besides,” says Kosjakova. The party board was unable to reach Ceban. “She also only received one vote, so she was never actively involved.”
Bad picture
NovUM thought they had found a solution after discussions with KAN: the number four on the KAN ballot could take up the vacated NovUM seat. However, due to doubts about procedure, she was not appointed during the latest council meeting. Rightly so, says Harteman. “The vacant seat can’t go to another party. For now, we’re still trying to contact the other two NovUM candidates. If they turn it down, then the seat will remain vacant for this academic year.”
How is it possible that candidates listed on the NovUM ballot had such a bad picture of the party or of what the position of council member entailed? “Last year, there were some problems, because one council member was suddenly inactive,” says chair Kosjakova. “So we were less able to guide the candidates. We have learned our lesson. A new board was appointed in September, and we are planning to organise workshops about the role of council member and have more regular meetings with our elected council members. Not just show our faces during elections. The situation at FASoS can never be allowed to happen again.”