2023-09-06 17:11:00
The municipal council of Molenbeek, during a meeting exclusively devoted to this point, appointed Saliha Raiss (Vooruit) as the new alderman in Molenbeek. The elected official was sworn in before Mayor Catherine Moureaux (PS) and will be in charge of Public Works, Municipal Property, Nurseries and Dutch-speaking Education.
The outcome of the vote was very uncertain. The municipal council finally voted, by secret ballot, in favor of his appointment with 20 yes, 16 no and one abstention.
Saliha Raiss, aged 35, becomes the first alderman wearing the veil in the Brussels region, since Mariem Bouselmati, alderman in Molenbeek from 2000 to 2006.
Who is Saliha Raiss, new alderwoman in Molenbeek?
This vote puts an end to a saga marked by tensions and uncertainties in the Brussels municipality. The MR, a member of the Molenbeek majority alongside the PS, tried to oppose the appointment of the new alderman.
Tensions within the majority in Molenbeek: Georges-Louis Bouchez tries to block the appointment as alderman of Saliha Raiss
“Being an alderman and wearing a sign of conviction are incompatible elements. We want the administration to be neutral,” said Georges-Louis Bouchez, president of the MR, last week.
The appointment of the elected Vooruit, scheduled for Wednesday, was in fact made possible thanks to the additional votes of Ecolo and the PTB who, from the opposition, supported her.
”I invite Georges-Louis Bouchez over a coffee”
“Over the past few weeks, I have worked on many files. I am delighted to be able to carry out all the projects launched by Jef Van Damme (his predecessor, Editor’s note)”, declared Saliha Raiss at the end of the municipal council. “I was very calm. Controversy is not my cup of tea. Sandbox politics don’t interest me. I throw a pole now to the president of the MR, Georges-Louis Bouchez, who spoke regarding me but who does not know me. Let him come meet me in Molenbeek. I invite him over coffee or to a RWDM Girls match”.
The vote, originally scheduled for last Wednesday at the municipal council, had been postponed to Wednesday, September 6. Official reason: the municipal councilor had gathered the necessary signatures, but too late.
This Wednesday’s vote was special in more ways than one. Indeed, the members of the MR, even if there are dissensions within it on the subject, were instructed to vote once morest the appointment of the alderman by their majority, while the opposition (Écolo, PTB and former members of the Engagés) voted in favor.
”This is a historic moment for our municipality, with this choice of an alderman from diversity. I want to cry”, declared Taoufik Hamzaoui, Ecolo municipal councilor, just following the vote, regretting that this designation had “almost been prevented by the majority partner”, denouncing “the hypocrisy of the MR of Molenbeek” and assuring that “the Molenbeekois will remember that in the 2024 elections”.
There was then a lot of talk regarding the president of the MR, Georges-Louis Bouchez, Didier Block (PTB) denouncing his interference in the municipality, while Ahmed El Khannouss (Molenbeek Otherwise, Ex-Engaged) called the liberal “Alain Destexhe version 2023.”
”Defections on the side of the PS”
“There are five defections on the side of the PS”, however observed a liberal elected official, pointing out the fact that, according to him, all the socialist elected officials had not voted in favor of the alderman. Mayor Catherine Moureaux disputed the figures which are, in any case, unverifiable since the vote was held by secret ballot. The fact remains that the MR (List of the mayor) has only 12 seats, while the no received 16 votes, for one abstention. And that the opposition had pledged to support Saliha Raiss.
“The instrumentalization of the scarf is not the prerogative of the outside, it is also at work here this evening, declared Catherine Moureaux, looking serious. I would just tell Saliha to hang on, you are welcome in the College no matter what.”
The MR was quick to react via its president, Georges-Louis Bouchez, who denounced “a new attack on the neutrality of the State and on living together” and announced “the filing of an appeal with the Minister local authorities Bernard Clerfayt who will take an attitude.”
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