Last chance for only remaining candidates in UGent rector elections

The candidates for rector and vice-rector this round received the support of about 58% of the voters – UGent students and staff. The rest submitted blank ballots, meaning they chose not to vote for the only candidate duo on the ballot.

That’s about the same number of votes the pair received in previous rounds, when they competed against the candidates Guido Van Huylenbroeck and Sarah De Saeger. The latter pair stepped out of the race after being promised positions as vice-rector.

According to the compromise, two other vice-rectors – also previous candidates – would be appointed as well, increasing the number of vice-rectors from the normal one to five. This suggestion first had to be approved by UGent’s board of directors, which has passed it on to an internal working group.

The large number of blank votes indicates a rejection of the compromise. In a Facebook post, Van de Walle declared that he “very well understood this signal and will take it into account for future policy proposals”.

There are rumours that another duo is preparing to step into the race if the current candidates fail again: Patrick De Baets of the engineering sciences faculty and Karin Raeymaeckers of the communication sciences faculty.

The rector elections were also marred in the beginning by reports of intimidation of the current rector, Anne De Paepe, convincing her not to seek re-election.

Photo courtesy UGent