"Ecolo is back," proclaimed Mr. Dupriez after the results were announced, before the 1,100 activists gathered in Louvain-la-Neuve. "Today, we can all together gather around a project. It is not a question of dividing. Today, it is time to come together. "Ms. Khattabi said.

The duo takes over from Emily Hoyos and Olivier Deleuze. A ballot was enough to separate the two teams.

The freshly elected pair will face the daunting task of reviving a party sounded by its electoral defeat and which has been through long months of transition. They will start their job on Monday, both internally and by going to meeting the civil society and social movements, have assured the two co-chairs. Ms. Khattabi gives her tandem a year to get Ecolo back to working order.

During the debate, behind closed doors, which preceded the vote, the party executives and leading figures have remained discreet. The few personalities who have expressed their opinions-Jacky Morael, Zoe Genot and Philippe Lamberts- did it in favor of the winners.

Groen was well represented at the meeting as the head of Ecolo-Groen group, Kristof Calvo, was in charge of presiding over the discussions along with the Brussels MP Barbara Trachte. President of the Flemish Greens, Meryem Almaci, was also present.