The mayor of Lille Martine Aubry. SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP
The PS mayor of the capital of Flanders has a habit of wandering the streets of the city center for this major event of the year.
Martine Aubry breaks a ritual. She has had the habit, since she was elected mayor of Lille in 2001, of strolling through the streets of the city during the famous Braderie which is held every first weekend of September. But this year, she did not go there.
The chosen one is recovering after an operation held during the week, as explained by her first assistant quoted by The voice of the North . “Don’t worry, she’s fine. The mayor was operated on this week, for pain, but everything is fine. However, she cannot be physically present. She had to be in front of the cameras, she is finally behind her screen. She followed the preparations and now the smooth running.”
Instead of the traditional walkabout, a parade of elected officials nevertheless went around the town hall, exchanging with certain stands, also reports the regional daily.
In 2022, Martine Aubry was delighted with the reopening of the “biggest European second-hand event» and a «big popular festivalafter two years of pandemics. One of the largest flea markets in Europe with nearly 80 kilometers of stalls and some 2.5 million visitors of all nationalities, the Braderie opened on Saturday.