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ETR

In Belgium, there will be elections to choose people
who will run each city.

Didier Peleman is a man with intellectual disability.
He lives in a Belgian city of Gent.

He is a candidate in the elections in Gent.

If he gets elected, he will be on Gent city council.
This means he will have a say in
how the things are run in his city.

Didier Peleman is a 41 year-old man with an intellectual disability and the number 20 on the list of Flemish Christian-Democratic CD&V party in Gent.

didier

Didier Peleman works in Gent as a volunteer in service of people with disabilities. With his candidacy he hopes to show that a disability and a position of responsibility are not mutually exclusive.

Peleman has been a member of the CD&V party for many years. "I have problems talking and writing, but that doesn't mean I should stay in a corner", Peleman told the VRT's radio channel MNM.

Veli Yüksel, head of the party's list, said that Didier Peleman will receive all the support he might need and cited examples of other politicians that have carried out their duties without a problem, for example David Blunkett, a UK’s minister who happened to be blind.The party’s campaign slogan is “Gent, everyone included” and according to Veli Yüksel, Peleman's candidacy proves that it is not only words.

However, according to a Belgian internet news portal flandersnews.be, the Peleman's chances to get elected are rather low as he is only on the 20th place..

Local elections in Belgium will take place in October 2012.