2023-09-07 18:17:29
Saliha Raiss (Vooruit) was sworn in as alderman on Wednesday before the municipal council of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. His college candidacy, approved by secret ballot, received the support of twenty councilors while sixteen voted once morest. A vote was declared invalid.
Ms. Raiss will replace Jef Van Damme who has taken on a leading role at the Flemish Community Commission. Its designation was preceded by a controversy due to the refusal of the MR, yet in the majority alongside the Socialists, to support it. The French-speaking liberals accuse the new alderwoman of wearing the Islamic headscarf in the exercise of her functions. A choice they consider incompatible with the neutrality imposed by the exercise of an executive function. A very large part of the opposition – Ecolo, PTB and the Engaged – gave their support to the alderman by agreeing to sign his application form. At the end of the vote and the swearing in, the latter received expressions of support from their representatives who all pointed the finger at the MR, and in particular its president, Georges-Louis Bouchez, accused of using Molenbeek for an electoral position.
A majority under tension
The Montois had made it known in the national media at the start of the school year that his party would refuse to support Ms. Raiss. “The 2024 campaign is launched by the president of MR, and he is positioning himself,” lamented Emre Sumlu (Ecolo). “This municipal council was the only place where the debate should be held. We have lived through a sad story in which people who have nothing to do with Molenbeek positioned themselves before the elections”, underlined Dirk De Block (PTB) . The PS meanwhile “regretted” the attitude of its majority partner. “‘You have sent a terrible message to part of our population,” accused group leader Khalil Boufraquech. In the eyes of the Socialists, the debate on neutrality has been “instrumentalised by the French-speaking right and the Flemish extreme right” which would proceed to a confusion: this principle applies to the public service and not to political representatives. The local MR was careful not to come forward. It calls on governments and parliaments to take action. “Our representatives on the upper floors will have to take this problem into their own hands so that one day this matter can be resolved,” asked Councilor Pascal Duquesne.
“I invite Mr. Bouchez to meet the person he harshly criticized”
The issue of wearing belief symbols has divided the Belgian political class for two decades and regularly gives rise to heated controversy. It rebounded in Molenbeek while in Ghent another veiled alderwoman sits in the municipal college without arousing the opposition of the Flemish liberals. “I am convinced that the instrumentalization of the headscarf is not over,” said mayor Catherine Moureaux (PS). “I will tell Saliha to hang on.” Strongly applauded by a large part of the assembly and the public, the person concerned has affirmed her serenity during these last weeks. “I do not indulge in sandbox politics. Molenbeekois do not deserve this,” she explained before inviting Mr. Bouchez “to take the trouble to meet the person he harshly criticized. for weeks.” “Democracy has spoken here, for the second time,” she added. The vote took place by secret ballot. Nine MR councilors were present… Some of the votes once morest were therefore cast by elected representatives from other groups
1694126383
#Saliha #Raiss #sworn #alderwoman #Molenbeek
