Solution 1:

{{ }} tells the template to print the value, this won't work in expressions like you're trying to do. Instead, use the {% set %} template tag and then assign the value the same way you would in normal python code.

{% set testing = 'it worked' %}
{% set another = testing %}
{{ another }}

Result:

it worked

Solution 2:

Nice shorthand for Multiple variable assignments

{% set label_cls, field_cls = "col-md-7", "col-md-3" %}

Solution 3:

Just Set it up like this

{% set active_link = recordtype -%}