The Jurisdictional College of the Brussels-Capital Region has decided to invalidate the results of the elections of October 13 in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. At issue: irregularities noted at the level of proxies. A cancellation that takes us back almost a quarter of a centurywhen this same Jurisdictional College decided to cancel the municipal elections of October 8, 2000 in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. Reminder of this political and legal episode which lasted more than five months.
On election day, Philippe Moureaux, outgoing mayor and community figure, presented an expanded list. It includes not only French-speaking socialists but also Dutch-speaking socialists, the Christian socialists of the PSC and their Dutch-speaking counterparts of the CVP. Independent candidates accompany the troops. Facing Philippe Moureaux, a rival list combining PRL and FDF with, at its head, Françoise Schepmans, outgoing alderman but also Ecolo led by Jacques Bauduin whose heart we know is already swinging in favor of an alliance with the PS.
400 ghost voters
When the voter gives their verdict, he places the Mayor’s List in the lead with 18 seats, the PRL-FDF federation wins 14 seats, Ecolo 5, the Vlaams Blok 2 and the National Front 2. As expected, Philippe Moureaux concluded a majority agreement with Jacques Bauduin which would total 23 seats out of 41. The agreement was presented four days later and the names of the aldermen already announced: we find there in particular Jamal Ikazban, who is then beginning his first political experience or even Mariem Bouselmati (Ecolo), first veiled alderwoman in the Brussels Region.
But on December 14, 2000, there was a thunderbolt: the Jurisdictional College announced the cancellation of the elections. The case was taken up by two candidates from the PRL list: Michel Eylenbosch and Georges Urbain. They were not elected on October 8, 2000 but they denounced irregularities in several polling stations. In bulk: a difference of more than 400 votes between the number of voters registered in the registers and the number of ballots in the ballot boxes, disputed proxies, several poorly written reports, one faulty automated voting system…
A political settling of scores
For the Jurisdictional College, these hiccups are likely to influence the distribution of seats between the lists. Hence the cancellation which will take place more than two months after the election. The socialist Philippe Moureaux brushes aside the accusations of cheating. Outraged, he takes to the Jurisdictional College and describes its decision as “legal pants” and “settling political scores”. In fact, the College’s deliberation was made public before the official announcement. Christian Lejeune, president (PRL) of the College, was offended and filed a complaint for violation of the secrecy of the deliberations. “I am surprised that Philippe Moureaux participated in this. From a former Minister of Justice, I would have expected a little more sense of ethics“, declares Christian Lejeune to RTBF.
In any case, as the procedure provides, Philippe Moureaux and other running mates lodge an appeal with the Council of State.
The torture of Tantalus
In February 2001, the opinion of the auditor of the Council of State leaked: it validates the municipal results. The case still remains to be argued. At the beginning of May, the final judgment falls: the irregularities are not necessarily fraud and they are in any case not likely to modify the results of October 8, 2000. These are therefore confirmed, the people of Molenbeek will not have to vote again. Relief and victory for the Moureaux camp.
On Monday, May 21, the elected officials meet at Karreveld Castle to finally take the oath. The atmosphere is frosty between the majority and the liberal-amaranth opposition. Philippe Moureaux will denounce, in his own style, “the torture of Tantalus”, that the Liberals put him through for several months. Françoise Schepmans will answer him: “We we did not lose the elections: the PRL-FDF was the party which made the most progress on October 8, 2000.“
This sequence did not prevent Philippe Moureaux, six years later, to reform a majority with the MR of Françoise Schepmans. In 2000, Philippe Moureaux nevertheless had an agreement to renew his alliance with the liberals, torn apart on election night after majority reversals in the City of Brussels and Anderlecht.
