Molenbeek-Saint-Jean: Catherine Moureaux will combine her job as bourgmestre and deputy

Brussels

The new mayor of Molenbeek and his alderman Amet Gjanaj violate the statutes of the Socialist Party.

Last Monday, at the political bureau of the Brussels Federation of the Socialist Party, Laurette Onkelinx exempted the new mayor of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Catherine Moureaux, and the alderman of the same municipality Amet Gjanaj from a resignation – however mandatory according to the statutes of the Socialist Party – of their position as Brussels MPs. Catherine Moureaux and her alderman will thus cumulate their municipal job and their position as Brussels MP until the next regional elections, in May 2019.

Advanced official argument: avoid too much turmoil with the substitutes. Contacted, the spokesperson of the PS Brussels Federation ensures that this decision does not violate the internal rules of the party. It also specifies that the proposal put forward by Laurette Onkelinx was unanimously accepted by the people present at the political office of the Brussels PS.

However, at its congress of 2 July 2017, Article 71 on incompatibilities with regard to mandates and external functions clearly stipulates, in its paragraph 2bis, that "in municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, the function of parliamentarian is incompatible with the functions of mayor, alderman or president of CPAS." Except for leavers: "A parliamentarian currently burgomaster, alderman or president of CPAS who would be renewed in his local executive mandate will be able to complete his parliamentary mandate until at the latest at the renewal of the bademblies in May / June 2019." This measure comes into force "to the renewal of the communal councils resulting from the elections of October 14, 2018."

Freshly elected and not re-elected, Catherine Moureaux is therefore not part of the exception provided by the internal regulations of the PS. Ditto for his alderman Amet Gjanaj. On the other hand and as an example, the new president of the CPAS of the City of Brussels and federal MP Karine Lalieux falls within the scope of this exception.

For the record, an early resignation of a Brussels parliamentary post prevents the person from receiving his severance pay. In the case of Catherine Moureaux, we are talking about a year of treatment. In 2017, the new mayor of Molenbeek earned € 133,752.36 gross via her job as a Brussels MP, his alderman – and MP – Amet Gjanaj has meanwhile received € 123,532.62.