Ahmed Laaouej (PS): “The MR’s veto against Hassan Koyuncu as mayor of Schaerbeek is racism”

How do you analyze the result of the municipal elections of October 13 for the Brussels PS?

It’s a victory. The most important criterion is representation in municipal councils. And there, we are the first to leave, despite the double pressure of the PTB and Team Ahidar, and even though we were predicted a blue wave. Some people think that you don’t win on a good record, I believe exactly the opposite. We recalled how useful the vote on the left is the PS vote.

How did you manage to take the mayorships of Ixelles and Anderlecht, where the PS did not come out on top on election night?

In Anderlecht, without the Engagés, the MR has 11 seats (MR and Engagés presented themselves as a cartel, Editor’s note)while the PS makes 15. And then, we had a certain centrality in the political discussions and we had other options than going with the MR-Engagés cartel. They were therefore asked to make a choice, believing that the mayorate should go to the PS.

In Ixelles, the MR was clearly ahead of the PS.

In Ixelles, we quickly understood that there was a real “stickiness” among those committed to the MR, as in many municipalities, with strong exclusions vis-à-vis the ecologists. A progressive coalition with the ecologists, supported by the Engagés, was therefore not possible. In this dynamic of discussions, it was the MR himself who offered us the mayorship of Ixelles.

Is it the MR or is it Gauthier Calomne, the leader of the MR in Ixelles? It is said that Georges-Louis Bouchez (president of the MR) and David Leisterh (president of the Brussels liberals) wanted the mayorate, but that the local section did not want it.

I invite you to ask these questions to the MR…

Negotiations are still underway in Forest and Schaerbeek. David Leisterh said it would be both mayorates or nothing.

The problem with the Liberals is that we don’t really know what their line is. You have, on the one hand, Georges-Louis Bouchez who says that putting the PS in opposition is a measure of public health, which is particularly insulting. And, on the other hand, the MR who asks that he be left the mayorate in a coalition with the PS. It’s not easy to follow. In Schaerbeek, the PS is the leading party. And our leader, Hasan Koyuncu, had the highest score. These are enough democratic arguments to claim the mayorate. And we won’t give up!

In Forest too?

Here too the mayorate is legitimately claimed by the PS. But the aggressiveness of the MR leads us to demand options other than a coalition with them. Having a party president who spends his time insulting partners does not invite us to consider coalitions with the MR as inevitable. Arrogance is a costly luxury…

The MR describes Hasan Koyuncu as a “communitarian” and criticizes his skills. Are they wrong?

We have here a rather putrid combination of racism and social contempt. I have enough elements to say that the MR’s veto is linked to the origins of Mr. Koyuncu. It has a name: it’s racism. I say this all the more because people like Ridouane Chahid (PS MP) and myself have not been spared from racist and odious campaigns. (he shows us a pile of racist comments he received, Editor’s note). Unfortunately, candidates from the second generation are still victims of explicit racism. For the PS, it is a matter of principle. And therefore, unavoidably, Mr. Koyuncu is our mayoral candidate in Schaerbeek. Beyond racism, there is also social contempt. Why would Mr. Koyuncu not have the capacity to be mayor? He has been a member of parliament for ten years, a municipal councilor for several legislatures, and a lifelong resident of Schaerbeek. With each day that passes, our support, already total, strengthens.

Govern Forest or Schaerbeek with the PTB? The question divides Ecolo: “If we do it, it risks tearing the party apart…”

Even in his community, political figures are very critical of him…

In a competitive political environment, slander and defamation always serve each other’s interests. It bothers some to see others emerge.

Hasan Koyuncu did not distinguish himself as a parliamentarian.

It’s your perception of things, but there is not just one way to do politics. There is field work, file work… Mr. Koyuncu does both. And, yes, there is a problem of endemic racism which resonates in the MR veto. We all remember the words of Pierre-Yves Jeholet (MR) to Nabil Boukili (PTB) (“You don’t have to stay in Belgium,” he told her, Editor’s note).

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