These days, cartels are back. In recent weeks, one cartel after the other pops up, for the 2012 local elections around Flanders. In Ghent, greens collaborate with the socialists of mayor Daniël Termont. In Mechelen, those same greens join mayor Bart Somers’ Open VLD list. The Antwerp Christian-democrats have declared their love for mayor Patrick Janssens (SP.A), while in Tongeren, CD&V will present themselves on a joint list with Patrick Dewael’s Open VLD.

Cartels are characteristic of local politics. Especially in small rural towns they are instrumental in ousting traditional and seemingly untouchable mayors. For this reason, even ideological opposites unite without much hesitation.

The new cartels are different, though. For one, they are not some quirky demonstration of small town politics, as they are being created in major cities. Moreover, they are all initiated by the sitting mayors, prominent politicians the lot of them.

Some people believe that fear is the main motivation: the nationalist N-VA is becoming more popular every day. Up to now, N-VA is anything but a grassroots party: Its success is largely attributable to its leader, Bart De Wever. Local lists might benefit from that national success and remain a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

In Ghent for instance, the N-VA list will be headed by Siegfried Bracke, former TV journalist, former socialist sympathiser and one of the most prominent nationalist politicians. Daniel Termont, the folksy Ghent mayor, claims he fears nothing and no-one. Still, he knows that with one player extra, the votes become more divided. This means that a couple of votes more or less may decide his fate as leader of the city.

Above all, this new trend illustrates once again an old wisdom in Flemish politics: mayor is the best job to have, preferred even over ministerial posts. This explains why mayors like Termont, Janssens, Somers and Dewael look for support – wherever it may come from these days.