Editing Rotselaar (section)

==Local government==
[[File:RotselaarTownHall.jpg|thumb|Rotselaar town hall]]

===Municipal Council===

The [[City council|Municipal Council]] is a [[unicameral]] body composed of 25 [[councillor]]s, including the [[mayor]] and [[Schepen|aldermen]]. The councillors are [[election|elected]] directly by the [[voters]] in the municipality. The Municipal Council is renewed entirely every six years. The municipal elections of 8 October 2006 were the first municipal and provincial elections in [[Belgium]] since the transfer of the competence with regards to the [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipalities]] and [[Provinces of Belgium|provinces]] from the [[Belgian federal government|Federal Government]] to the [[Communities, regions and provinces of Belgium|Regions]] on 13 June 2001.

The Municipal Council is responsible for everything that is of local interest. This organ draws up rules and ordinances, establishes municipal [[tax]]es, approves the [[budget]] and the [[Financial statements|accounts]] of the municipality, scrutinises the local services, and looks after the interests of its population in general ([[spatial planning]], [[road building]], [[security]], [[health]], [[youth]], [[sport]],...). The council also appoints the [[Schepen|aldermen]]. The [[mayor]] is nominated by the majority and appointed by the [[Flemish Government]]. The council meets once per month.

Between 2007 and 2013, the majority consisted of the [[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]]/[[New-Flemish Alliance|N-VA]] combined list, with 14 out of 25 seats. [[Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten|VLD]] (5 seats), [[Socialist Party – Different|SP.A-Spirit]] (2 seats), [[Groen!|Groen!Sociaal]] (2 seats) and [[Vlaams Belang]] (2 seats) were in the opposition in the Municipal Council, and together had 11 seats out of 25. The [[Chair (official)|Presiding Officer]] of the Municipal Council was Werner Mertens ([[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]]).

Between 2013 and 2018, the majority consisted of CD&V and OpenVLD, CD&V having attained 12 seats, and OpenVLD 3 seats, forming a majority. NV-A (5 seats), GroenSociaal (2 seats) and anders (a local party, 3 seats) were part of the opposition.

In the elections of October 2018, CD&V stayed the largest party with 10 seats, followed by N-VA (5 seats), Open VLD (3 seats), anders (3 seats), Groen (3 seats) and SP.A (1 seat).<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.vlaanderenkiest.be/verkiezingen2018/#/gemeente/24094
|title=Uitslagen 2018
|publisher=Flemish Government
|access-date=2018-10-31
|language=nl
}}</ref> CD&V announced a coalition with the second party N-VA to form a majority for the legislative session of 2019 and beyond.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.hln.be/regio/rotselaar/cd-v-en-n-va-stellen-nieuwe-bestuursploeg-voor~a8163ba7
|title=CD&V en N-VA stellen nieuwe bestuursploeg voor
|publisher=HLN.be
|access-date=2018-10-31
|language=nl
}}</ref>

===College of Mayor and Aldermen===

The current [[mayor]] of Rotselaar is Jelle Wouters ([[CD&V]]). His primary responsibilities as mayor include, but are not limited to: security (police, fire service), personnel, communication, festivities, honorary and legal affairs.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.rotselaar.be/burgemeester
|title=Burgemeester
|publisher=The Municipality of Rotselaar
|access-date=2022-11-07
|language=nl
}}</ref> The mayor is assisted by a number of [[Schepen|aldermen]], who together form the College of Mayor and Aldermen. Rotselaar is entitled to five aldermen because it has between 10,000 and 19,999 inhabitants.

===Coat of arms and logo ===
[[File:Rotselaar wapen.svg|150px|right|thumb|Coat of Arms]]
[[File:RotselaarLogo.png|150px|right|thumb|Logo]]
The official [[coat of arms]] of the municipality of Rotselaar was adopted by the municipal council in 1968 and ratified by [[Royal Decree]] in 1973. After the merger with the municipalities of Werchter and Wezemaal, the coat of arms was confirmed by the municipal council and 1981 and ratified in 1982.
The coat of arms consists of three [[fleur-de-lis]] [[gules]] on a field of silver.

In line with many other municipalities adopting modern fashions, the [[municipal government]] decided in 2002 to introduce a new [[Corporate identity|house style]] with a modern [[logo]] replacing the coat of arms in communication and on municipal documents.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.rotselaar.be/Index.aspx?SGREF=3955
|title=Historiek
|publisher=The Municipality of Rotselaar
|access-date=2011-11-14
|language=nl
}}</ref>

This is the meaning of the logo: the [[keep]] "Ter Heide" is the symbol for the [[cultural heritage]] of Rotselaar, the field tracks symbolise the [[rural]] aspects of the municipality and the [[agriculture]], the blue river is the symbol for the three rivers of Rotselaar, the [[Demer]], the [[Dijle]] and the [[Winge (river)|Winge]], and the lake, the green represents the [[natural environment]] and [[nature reserves]] of Rotselaar, the [[plantations]] and the hills covered with forests, and last but not least, the sun gives Rotselaar blossoming [[vineyards]] and refers to the [[recreational]] facilities and activities in Rotselaar.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.rotselaar.be/Index.aspx?SGREF=3954
|title=Logo
|publisher=The Municipality of Rotselaar
|access-date=2007-07-05
|language=nl
}}</ref>