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Mayor Bart Somers denies exerting pressure for higher salary for secretary

Mayor Bart Somers of Mechelen responded to allegations of interference with the police to secure a higher salary for his secretary, denying any pressure was applied.

22 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Mayor Bart Somers denies exerting pressure for higher salary for secretary — Photo: Armineaghayan · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

According to reports from De Morgen, Mayor Bart Somers of Mechelen allegedly intervened personally with the police to arrange a higher salary for his secretary. This comes from email correspondence reviewed by De Morgen, which reveals that the staff member, officially on the payroll of the Rivierenland police zone, threatened to lose part of her income upon her return from the Flemish cabinet to city hall.

In response to these allegations, Bart Somers stated that he has not exerted any pressure to secure a higher salary for his secretary. This statement has been included in responses from both Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Nieuwsblad, which report on the alleged interference by Somers.

The mayor thus responded to the controversial claim that he actively interfered with his secretary's salary, a situation that has drawn attention in local politics. Reports suggest that the issue surrounding compensation is so sensitive that it should be treated as a priority.

Some parties have already indicated that the alleged intervention by the mayor is unacceptable and that there is a need for clarity regarding salary structures within the police zone. This is the outcome of a grim assessment of the situation noted by council members.

The call for greater transparency and addressing the issue surrounding the compensation of the staff member is widely supported. The involvement of a mayor in such personal financial matters raises questions about the integrity of the office, according to reports.

For now, it remains unclear how the police zone and the mayor will account for their actions. The mayor seems determined to maintain his stance and has not provided further details regarding the discussed emails or the content of conversations with the police.

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