Lunar response from the PS group leader, Rachid Ben Salah, who defends the future president (before the vote): “I understand, we would like to have more women but the legal framework has been reestablished (and respected). We don’t have any trans people here, that would have done the trick!” (implied: both man and woman)
He compares the upper and center of Molenbeek to Israel and Gaza in the middle of the municipal council over a question of cleanliness: “totally inappropriate”
Immediate hubbub in the room: “this is insulting,” “these are scandalous remarks,” “what a lack of respect.”
On the Bluesky network a comment sums up the slippage well.Imagine, no one gives a damn about electing trans people but we are used as a substitute argument for parity. If you add a trans guy to a collective that is not equal, it’s even less equal.”
Mayor Catherine Moureaux comes to the rescue in full council: “I think that’s a pretty clumsy statement.” And Rachid Ben Salah continues: “I apologize if the comments were misinterpreted. What I mean is that the ideal would have been to have both (a man and a woman) but that is not the case The main thing is that the legal framework is respected.”
“These men who have no understanding of the definition of parity”
Sharp reply from the Ecolo group leader: “Before you speak, sometimes you have to think. I talk to you about parity and you come with other arguments. Think about your role as group leader, this is not normal. I also invite the college to think about providing training among your advisors, these men who have no understanding of the definition of parity. It is to avoid this type of argument that we need parity.”
-“Transphobia is a crime, continues Emre Sumlu interviewed after the council. This kind of argument does not have to be made, especially coming from a PS group leader who defended the rights of trans people. This group leader comes from a right-wing party (Défi, Editor’s note) where the tone was perhaps different on the issue but I invite him to take note of the values of his new party. We don’t need Trumpist comments.”
Ludivine Dedonder responds dryly to Theo Francken whom she accuses of “macho and sexist”: “Too much testosterone destroys the neurons”
The mayor, before the vote, nevertheless clarified that the choice of Mr Rahali as president was notably due to the fact “who is the most perfect bilingual among us”.
Once the vote was carried out, validating the designation of Hassan Rahali and Taoufik Hamzaoui, Rachid Ben Salah returned for new apologies: “My desire is that all the rights of all citizens be respected. I apologize if I offended. My will was not there. I would like to apologize. And I hope that in this mandate we will have many projects to provide support to all those who wish it, whatever their gender.”
After the council, he deplores that women are not sufficiently represented in municipal councils and says he is always open to additional training on gender issues, “for me, for all elected officials and for all citizens. But I remain aware of discrimination and Ecolo knows it well. I was even briefly vice-president of the Mrax Movement against racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia.”
