The Brussels Times has learnt of new allegations of fraud in the local elections in the Brussels municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. An investigation into proxy votes has already concluded. It found there were sufficient irregularities to require a re-run of the election. The Brussels Times has now been made aware of other potentially illegal goings-on at polling stations on the day.
The elections in Saint-Josse were won with an absolute majority by sitting mayor Emir Kir's Liste du Bourgmestre with 50.5% of the vote – among the largest vote-share increases in the country. However, several irregularities of proxy votes (where voters assign their vote to someone else when they cannot vote) have led to the result being annulled.
There have been reports of voters being accompanied by one or two other people in the voting booth. These claims also seem to be substantiated by photos shared on social media.
Le Collège juridictionnel de la Région de Bruxelles a annulé les élections communales à Saint-Josse. Timing: 8j pour le recours au Conseil d’état 60j pour que le Conseil d’état statue sur le recours 50j pour convoquer de nouvelles élections pic.twitter.com/XqRbY873Ai
— Philippe Boïketé (@PhilippeBoikete) November 19, 2024
While residents who need help voting can request someone to help them in the voting booths, The Brussels Times has learned that this did not happen in accordance with the rules and some (mostly elderly) people were accompanied by at least one member of the Liste du Bourgmestre, which is illegal. Additionally, party members were reportedly trying to convince voters waiting in the queue to vote for them.
On Tuesday, the Brussels-Capital Region judicial court annulled the election results based on a number of irregularities. Now, Kir has a week to appeal the decision. This court only took an administrative decision by declaring the elections invalid, but a different investigation into electoral fraud is also ongoing.
"We are relieved, because this decision partly confirms what we have been denouncing for months," local PS list leader Philippe Boïketé told The Brussels Times. "There is a whole string of incorrect things happening that are likely to undermine political pluralism."
Boïketé added that the person appointed by the municipality to manage the local elections was close to Kir's Liste du Bourgmestre and was even photographed campaigning for the party. "This person is clearly not neutral or independent, but was appointed to organise the elections."
Irregular proxies
The presidents of the different polling stations in Saint-Josse were also appointed by this person, he said, suggesting that they were not neutral either. "On election day itself, some of the observers who are supposed to monitor the smooth running of the elections were expelled from polling stations."
What caused the court to annul the election results were the irregularities with the proxies. "We found a whole series of irregularities in the proxies and filed the complaint, along with Team Foaud Ahidar and Ecolo. The court investigated our complaints and found irregularities even more serious than the ones we had found."
The court judgement states that proxies were missing from two of the 12 polling stations: 66 proxies were irregular due to lack of signature, incomplete data and/or missing certificates, while 50 others had been signed on polling day itself (a day after the legal deadline) either by Kir himself or by his delegate.
The College also noted that many of the 243 proxies granted to persons deemed to be abroad on election day had been completed in the same handwriting.
Voting at a polling station, Sunday 13 October 2024. Credit: Belga / Virginie Lefour
Team Fouad Ahidar missed out on a seat by just 54 votes, Ecolo could have had one more by just 127 votes, and PS would have needed 247 votes. Additionally, there were 663 proxy votes in Saint-Josse, or 7.5% – much higher than roughly 1.5% in neighbouring municipalities.
Ibrahim Dankuş (list leader for Team Fouad Ahidar in Saint-Josse) stressed that those arguing that the fraudulent proxies would have no impact on the result are wrong. "Even if a candidate wins 90% of the votes in an election, the entire election is tainted with suspicion if just one vote is fraudulent."
"Electoral fraud is the greatest blow to democracy and is absolutely unacceptable. These attempts to betray democracy amount to a theft of the will of the people and are extremely dangerous," he said. "We will not allow this betrayal to cost our democracy dearly."
In a statement to The Brussels Times, Emir Kir's office confirmed that he is studying "all avenues of appeal" following the court's decision. "We are confident. Of the strength of our victory on 13 October. Of the strength of our popular support. Vox populi, Vox Dei... The rest of history will be written with each and every one of you."
If Kir's office does not lodge an appeal, the people of Saint-Josse will have to vote again.
