The municipality of Schaerbeek has a history of heated exchanges and aggressive behavior during their previous three municipal councils. In light of the upcoming council meeting on March 29, Ecolo-Groen is proposing measures to prevent such behavior from happening once more. One of their proposals is to require identification for anyone attending the meeting and distribute a copy of the rules for attending the council. The rules will also be displayed during the session and anyone violating them following a prior warning may be asked to leave. Additionally, a physical distance will be installed between the public and the council members. Ecolo-Groen believes that their group and others are not able to freely speak without being interrupted or insulted, which undermines the democratic process. They are calling for stricter implementation of the Internal Rules during the upcoming council meeting and plan to invite other political groups to sign their document. The office of the acting mayor is waiting to receive the proposal before making a decision but has already discussed the issue with the mayor, municipal secretary, and the police.
The people of Schaerbeek most concerned by mobility issues most certainly remember the last three municipal councils of the Cité des Ânes: shouting, insults, threats, yelling, etc. The whole largely maintained by some municipal councilors of the opposition. In short, a parody of democratic debate that the majority no longer wishes to relive.
No decision has yet been taken but, in view of the next Schaerbeek municipal council on March 29, Ecolo-Groen proposes to put in place several measures so that such verbal fights do not happen once more.
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Thus, Ecolo-Groen proposes that “any person wishing to attend the board meeting must be identified, via their identity card or other supporting document”. Upon identification, “everyone will receive a copy of the rules for attending a municipal council, in this case, a copy of the relevant articles of the Internal Rules (ROI) – namely, Articles 15 and 16, mainly . These rules will be published on the municipality’s website, before the council, and will be physically displayed during it, – they must also be recalled at the start of the council.
That’s not all. “After a prior warning”, Ecolo-Groen suggests that “persons acting in contravention of these rules will be asked to leave the session”. And proposes to install a “physical distance will be installed between the public and the members of the council”.
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Ecolo-Groen complains that since October, the members of his group “are no longer able to speak, either because they are interrupted – even in some cases insulted – or because they don’t dare. This is totally unacceptable as it undermines the democratic process. And, it seems to me that we are not the only group in this case”, explains the municipal councilor Lucie Petre, on the initiative.
The ROI explains, however, in its article 16, that “during the duration of the session, the public cannot express its approval or disapproval by any means whatsoever”. He further specifies that “the chairman of the council may expel any person who contravenes these rules, following a warning”.
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The Ecolo Groen group therefore requests that the ROI be applied very strictly, at least temporarily, and, therefore, at the next Municipal Council, on March 29, 2023.
Ecolo-Groen will invite the other majority and opposition political groups to sign the document.
In the office of the acting mayor Cécile Jodogne (Defi), we are waiting to receive the document before deciding. Nevertheless, a reflection has already been carried out on this problem, meetings have been organized with the mayor, the municipal secretary and the police.
In conclusion, it remains to be seen if Ecolo-Groen’s proposals for preventing verbal fights during municipal council meetings in Schaerbeek will be implemented. However, it is clear that the party is committed to preserving the democratic process and preventing any further disruptions. By strictly applying the ROI and implementing measures such as identification of attendees, sharing of rules, and physical distancing, Ecolo-Groen hopes to ensure a peaceful and productive council meeting on March 29. We will have to wait and see if the other political groups are willing to sign on to these proposals and if they can make a positive impact on the functioning of the council.