Molenbeek-Saint-Jean has become the site of a spat between liberal party Mouvement Réformateur (MR) and the Socialist Party (PS) on the subject of election posters. Whilst PS is keen to assert its strong voter base in the municipality, MR is pushing to restrict the amount of political posters.
MR's Molenbeek leader Didier Milis has spent months attempting to implement a ban on election posters on the doors and windows of local businesses. "Shop windows must remain visible," he told Bruzz. "We want to draw a line under this visual pollution." He added that "all parties have a place there," calling for more equal representation of candidates.
The northern municipality is a socialist stronghold – PS won 33.9% of the vote in 2019 federal elections – and PS is less enthusiastic about efforts to curtail its campaign efforts. "We wonder whether a ban on posters at commercial establishments does not conflict with certain freedoms and rights," it stated.
One municipal councillor said many shop owners felt "threatened" by politicians on the campaign trail. "Some business owners bow to the power of politicians and do not dare say no" when asked to put up a campaign poster on their premises.
Milis' proposal, which will be discussed at a ministerial council at the end of the month, has support from a majority of opposition parties. Meanwhile, PS has come out in favour of limiting the amount of posters to 50% of those currently on display.
2019 federal election results in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. Credit: IBZ / Translation: Number of votes per party
What are the rules?
Rules regarding election posters vary between municipalities, which have the final say on when and where billboards are put up in public spaces. For federal elections, municipal powers are not obliged to authorise posters but if they do, they are responsible for distribution and must ensure that every party is granted the same exposure.
Posters on private property are less regulated. Candidates are free to put them up on walls, in windows and in businesses, provided there are no complaints from neighbours.
Specific electoral poster content is not policed but inciting hatred, racism or Holocaust denial are all banned. Right-wing Vlaams Belang (then Vlaams Bok) had its public funding suspended for racist messaging in 2004.
'Black-out period'
Belgian political parties are subjected to a four-month "black-out period" regarding campaign spending ahead of elections, which has been in force since 9 February this year (the next ballot is on 9 June). A maximum of €1 million may be spent during this time, and billboard posters and gift-giving to voters are prohibited.
This is the only time of the year when party spending is regulated, but existing legislation does not take social media campaigning into account. This overlooked fact has provoked urgent debate among parties and civil rights groups alike as Belgium is a top European spender in this regard, paying out a record-breaking €6 million for online campaigns in 2023.
Candidates who do not respect election campaign rules are sanctioned, in extreme cases even losing their seat if they end up being elected off the back of a transgressive campaign.
