Former Anderlecht CPAS president Mustapha Akouz denied any cronyism in his management of the institution between December 2018 and June 2024.
The Socialist Party (PS) representative was defending himself at a hearing into the Public Centre for Social Welfare (CPAS), where a VRT report exposed that the service granted financial support for energy bills without properly assessing the claimants, effectively allowing the centre to be defrauded.
"We must acknowledge that there were failures on the part of the CPAS," Akous admitted. He continued by highlighting that Anderlecht is the third poorest municipality in the country, with the CPAS receiving 171,000 requests and assisting 20,000 people each year.
In Anderlecht, 8.9% of the population aged 18-64 receives social integration income (RIS). The CPAS has struggled to recruit social workers amidst the successive crises of COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and inflation. From 2016 to 2023, the number of RIS grants grew 35%.
Akouz is accused of favouring certain cases through personal interventions. Several MPs claimed to have received testimonies confirming this.
'Corridor of miracles'
Outgoing Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD) put forward questions about a culture of permissiveness in the Anderlecht system. "Did you know that the third floor of the CPAS, where your office is located, is called the corridor of miracles?" he asked.
"At no point was there any special favours. I never influenced any individual decisions, there was never any cronyism," Akouz said in response.
Credit: Belga / Siska Gremmelprez
Akouz insisted that he met individuals only by appointment and in accordance with the law. He said this was always in the presence of a colleague and the social worker in charge of the case. He added that he did not sit on the special social service committee that decided on social aid requests.
The issue of emergency interventions was also discussed. These are permitted by law but must be ratified by the competent authorities and are limited to €250 per household. Over six years the emergency interventions amounted to €12,500. Akouz said he commissioned three audits from consultants to address operational issues during his term.
'You are in denial'
Several MPs expressed dissatisfaction with the former councillor's responses.
"You are in denial," said commission chairperson Denis Ducarme (MR). "We cannot stop here, we need a special commission, an inquiry commission."
As the hearing came to a close, Van Quickenborne reiterated the charges of cronyism and called for closed-door sessions where individuals could testify anonymously about problems at the CPAS.
But the challenges pressed on Akouz were not unanimously supported. Fellow PS member Khalil Aouasti expressed disbelief at the claims, calling them "indecent". He said that Akouz critics are following a "strictly political agenda. Do you seek the truth or intend to impose your personal narrative?"
