He had to give in, though. It was a very public defeat, which gave the ecologist opposition the chance to lambaste him. So much for the mayor’s green image.

Janssens’ coalition partner CD&V is widely believed to be behind this. Not that Janssens did nothing to bring this on: for years he supported the Oosterweel viaduct (also called the BAM route) because it is part of a larger Masterplan for Antwerp, which includes investment in public transport and urban renewal. Long after the greens, who originally supported the plans, had made a U-turn, Janssens continued to defend the BAM route.

“Walk and don’t look back”, was the route he took on this issue, although it did not work for him like it did for reggae singer Peter Tosh. In the end, Janssens made a volte-face and finally found himself shoulder to shoulder with many of his supporters. Until last week, that is.

It is remarkable how Janssens messed this up. Ever since he entered politics in 1999, when he became the president of the Flemish socialists, he has been a shrewd strategic thinker, resulting in several electoral victories. The most noted is the 2006 city elections, when Janssens halted the steady rise of the Vlaams Belang in the city where it all began for this ultra-right party.

Janssens campaigned with just one word: “Patrick”. It said it all: a name that was at once familiar and, as the campaign never mentioned Janssens’ party, transcended petty politics. Just like Patrick wanted. And although he all but pulverised his Antwerp coalition partners, he generously kept CD&V and Open VLD on board the city council, making it harder for them to criticise the well-liked mayor. Until now, that is.

So where does this leave Patrick Janssens? He will know in a couple of years. Unless he decides not to look back, of course.