Willie Spies, the FF Plus’ mayoral candidate. (Photo: Christine Oelofse/Maroela Media)
There is quite possibly a fierce battle awaiting in Pretoria in November with several high-profile candidates who have already thrown their names into the hat to possibly become the new first citizen of the capital.
The FF Plus’s Willie Spies and the DA’s Cilliers Brink are two of these candidates. However, Spies, a lawyer by profession, does not consider Cilliers, also a qualified lawyer, to be the competition.
“However, I am not entering this election to make Brink the mayor. I am entering this election to make the FF Plus as strong as possible,” Spies said this week.
Among other things, Maroela Media spoke to Spies about his return to politics – and his thoughts on coalition politics.
Willie Spies, the FF Plus’ mayoral candidate. (Photo: Christine Oelofse/Maroela Media)
He explains that he has always had a deep interest in politics – even when he swapped parliament for a law firm in the early 2000s.
This is why it was not necessary to think long when dr. Corné Mulder, leader of the FF Plus, did not approach him again last year.
“It’s a circus in a way, but it’s an interesting circus to be part of,” says Spies about politics. “I actually quite enjoy the circus.”
He admits in the interview that politics has changed a lot since he served as an MP in the early 2000s. But the new reality of coalition government does not make him nervous; on the contrary, it excites him.
“Coalitions are good,” says Spies. “Coalitions hold possibilities if done right. We intend to do it right.”
But can the FF Plus – a party that zealously fights for self-determination and Afrikaner interests – provide services? And is Brink now a competitor or a future coalition partner, Maroela wanted to know at Spies this week.
Willie Spies, the FF Plus’ mayoral candidate. (Photo: Christine Oelofse/Maroela Media)
“Cilliers is not a competitor,” came Spies’ reply. “Cilliers is finally a friend of mine. I’ve known Cilliers for quite a few years.
“We are both lawyers. He does not practice. He is in politics full-time. I practice full-time. I think Cilliers has done a good job. But I have one goal in mind in this election and that is to abandon the FF Plus as best as possible.”
The FF Plus currently has 17 councilors in the Tshwane metro. Spies believes the FF Plus can as much as double it in the next election.
Watch here Maroela Media’s interview with Willie Spies, the FF Plus’ mayoral candidate in Tshwane.