In Ixelles, the outgoing mayor Christos Doulkeridis (Ecolo) has been sent to the opposition despite his list securing first place in Sunday’s municipal elections.
A coalition of socialists, liberals, and centrists reached a majority agreement in the early hours, sources reveal. Socialist Romain De Reusme will take up the mayor’s sash.
The Ecolo-Groen mayoral list won on Sunday with 28.4% of the vote and 13 seats, followed closely by MR&VLD with Vous (27.7%; 13 seats), PS-Vooruit (19.6%; 9 seats), PTB-PVDA (10.9%; 4 seats), and Engagés Objectif XL (10%; 4 seats). DéFI lost the two seats it held in the municipal council.
On paper, the outgoing Ecolo-PS majority could have been renewed with 22 seats, but its narrow margin left room for other possible three-way coalitions.
Doulkeridis, has no regrets about not having given in to "political games" , following his removal from office after Monday's local elections.
"We faced incredible bashing during this campaign, as if Ecolo was the problem. Yet, Ixelles residents made us the leading party of the commune," Doulkeridis said during a party meeting on Monday.
"There’s another side to politics—those petty games that disgust people. I've always practised politics with authenticity, upholding values and a vision I've always defended. I never wanted to engage in a struggle for positions. I leave with my dignity intact and am proud of my tenure."
Outgoing Ixelles Mayor Christos Doulkeridis (Ecolo). Credit: Belga
Ecolo previously formed a coalition with the socialists in Ixelles. "The PS has chosen to give more space to conservative parties in an increasingly right-leaning society; it's a strange game," Doulkeridis remarked.
A prominent Ecolo figure in Brussels for many years and a regional state secretary from 2009 to 2014, Doulkeridis has announced the end of his active political career.
'Remarkable' agreement
The majority agreement also includes Gautier Calomne (MR) becoming the first councillor and Geoffroy Kensier (Les Engagés) the second. The coalition commands 26 of the 43 seats in the municipal council.
Dutch-Speaking Free University of Brussels (VUB) political expert Dave Sinardet has called the coalition agreement "remarkable" on social media.
"Ecolo-Groen remained largest party but is pushed aside for a mirroring regional coalition withMR/Engagés/PS. More surprising: it is not the MR that supplies the mayor (though their list leader was the winner in terms of votes) but PS, as it was how it was persuaded to unload Ecolo," the expert said.
The new coalition partners have agreed on key issues like housing accessibility, no increase in local taxes with a plan to reduce them to boost purchasing power, adaptive mobility and better parking policies, structural changes in public cleanliness, achieving environmental objectives (such as energy insulation of schools and public buildings), and improved public service accessibility.
The upcoming council will comprise 4 liberal councillors, 2 socialists, and 2 from Les Engagés. The PS will chair the CPAS, while the MR will lead the municipal council.
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