Just days after presenting a coalition agreement with the Belgian Workers' Party PTB-PVDA, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean mayor Catherine Moureaux (PS) announced that she is looking for a third partner to consolidate her majority after all.
Moureaux's PS-Vooruit list held firm in the local elections on 13 October, narrowly holding off Dirk De Block's PTB-PVDA. PS-Vooruit won 12 seats, while PTB-PVDA won 11. Following weeks of extensive discussions, Moureaux presented a coalition agreement between PS-Vooruit and PTB-PVDA. Together, they have a slim majority (23 seats out of 45).
The three parties were expected to reveal the details of the arrangement on Sunday morning, a few hours before the new council's inauguration. However, Moureaux announced on Friday that she is still looking for a third partner to consolidate her majority after all.
Interviewed on La Première (RTBF), she said that the last few days had shown that her coalition was not reliable enough. She explained that certain elected members had been taking advantage of the narrow majority to push forward their demands. The socialists therefore want to include a third majority partner.
Who could join the coalition?
In the local elections on 13 October, the liberals MR-VLD finished third with 17.1% (8 seats), while Team Fouad Ahidar jumped to 14.6% (7 seats).
Molenbeek Autrement, led by former CDH-Engagés member Ahmed El Khanouss, received 9.4% of the vote (4 seats), followed by Ecolo-Groen (6.5%; 2 seats) and Les Engagés-CD&V (4.7%; 1 seat).
Moureaux has said that contacts will be made with Team Fouad Ahidar and the Molenbeek Autrement list.
