David Leisterh, the MR leader in Brussels and candidate for regional Minister-President, is leaving the Brussels Parliament to become the mayor of Watermael-Boitsfort.
Leisterh has decided to leave the Brussels Parliament for Watermael-Boitsfort. However, he is also a leading candidate for the position of Brussels Minister-President. La Dernière Heure reported the news on Thursday, which Leisterh confirmed to Belga.
New rules in the Brussels-Capital Region prevent mayors or councillors from holding a parliamentary mandate in the Brussels, federal, or European Parliament.
As a result, Brussels regional MPs aiming to take office as mayors in early December must vacate their parliamentary seats.
Acting mayor of Evere, Ridouane Chahid, chose to remain a federal MP and passed the mayoral position to his party colleague Alessandro Zappala.
However, this is not the case with Leisterh. If elected, he can retain the title of mayor of Watermael-Boitsfort, delegating mayoral duties to a deputy mayor.