I have the professional pleasure of following Belgian affairs closely, fast acquainting myself with the hot topics and key players that shape national news. And even though I can't vote in this year's elections, my curiosity for federal, regional, and local developments hasn't been dampened.
Whilst it was obvious from the moment I arrived in Brussels that this is a rather peculiar place, understanding how it came to be this way is ever-riveting (though rarely logical). The election season has presented me with fresh proof that we are in a funny land where conventions follow their own line of reason, often fantastically intricate in the attempt to distribute power between language communities.
My colleague @Maajtee has grown used to my befuddlement whenever I realise that I haven't misread the Belgian rule book, things are really as strange as they seem. I was almost reassured to find confirmation that Brussels is uniquely complex in this respect, with the proportion of votes for Dutch-speaking candidates to secure a seat much lower than for their francophone counterparts.
Then again, the perennial question of how to cast your vote most effectively – not necessarily by choosing your preferred candidate but instead by weighing up likely outcomes and identifying the crucial pivot where your vote might tip the balance – is far more complicated in such a fractured system loaded with variables.
An easier approach – though one that still demands doing your homework ('careful to read the small print') – is to think about what are the key ingredients that make Brussels a great city. Or the main issues that prevent Brussels from being a great city. Then vote for whichever party will address those as a priority.
Politics is a realm of subterfuge and quirks that don't always reflect the real world. But if understanding it obliges us to consider what works well in Brussels and what needs a rethink, this surely is time well spent and brings us closer to the community we call home.
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1. Belgium braces for Sunday’s electoral showdown with final opinion polls
Nearly 8.5 million Belgians will vote in federal, European and regional elections on Sunday. What are the polls saying? Read more.
2. Why the elections in Brussels are different from the rest of Belgium
While three elections will be taking place all at once in Belgium this weekend, the regional ones will take a slightly different shape in the Brussels-Capital Region than in the rest of the country. Read more.
3. What to do in Brussels this weekend: 7 - 9 June
For those eligible to vote in the various elections held in Belgium this weekend, or those who are anxious to follow the results, politics may be the key focus this weekend. However, there are still plenty of other activities going on around Brussels. Find our favourites below. Read more.
4. 'Three-country connection train' to start operating end of June
The 'three-country train' linking Liège, Maastricht and Aachen has been postponed once again due to a delay in the resumption of traffic on the Belgium-Netherlands leg, and will now come on stream on 30 June, transport company Arriva says. Read more.
5. 'King Car' no more: New traffic rules to come into effect in September 2026
Belgium's new highway code, which will replace the current 50-year-old version, has been given the green light. The Public Road Code, with adjusted traffic rules and new traffic signs, will come into effect in late 2026, one year later than originally planned. Read more.
6. Hot stuff: Sauna at Brussels' only open-air swimming pool unveiled this weekend
After much expectation, a sauna at Brussels' only open-air pool FLOW, located in Anderlecht, will open to the public this weekend. Read more.
7. Italy bets big on next-gen clean tech
Italy is going to fund geothermal, floating offshore power, tidal and biomass with tens of billions of euros. Read more.
