Emir Kir took the oath as mayor of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode in the presence of the Brussels minister for local authorities, Bernard Clerfayt, on Wednesday. The mayor was re-elected following an election scandal last year.
The swearing-in took place in the Botanic Tower in the heart of Brussels, where the cabinet of Clerfayt (DéFI) is housed.
Kir was re-elected with a landslide victory after new elections were held in February. The former socialist (PS) mayor, now independent, achieved an absolute majority with his Lijst Burgemeester (Mayor's List). Kir himself won with 4,227 votes, four times more votes than his political opponent, Philippe Boïketé (PS), who only managed to win 1,021 votes.
The residents of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode went to the polls again in February after the election on 13 October was declared invalid due to alleged fraud with proxies in the municipality.
"It's good for the people that it's official. Democracy is the best political system. Sometimes there are surprises, but I never had any doubts," Kir told the Belga News Agency on Wednesday. "Today I am especially happy that I have once again earned the trust of the citizens."
The mayor stated that he has no desire to take revenge against those who accused him of electoral fraud. "We have little time on earth. We must use that time to make it a better place for others."
Kir was first sworn in as mayor in 2012, becoming the first mayor of non-European origin in Belgium. "We will use this third term in office to serve the people and make Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode an even better municipality."
