New Brussels City aldermen and councillors take office

The new College of Mayor and Aldermen and the City Council of Brussels were installed and confirmed at around 14:00 on Sunday. The councillors and aldermen took the oath of office in the national language of their choice.

Including Mayor Philippe Close, there are five men and five women in the new Brussels College of Mayor and Aldermen. Florence Frelinx of MR+ will be the first alderwoman and will be in charge of sports, public and historical heritage, green spaces and animal welfare. 

Faouzia Hariche of PS-Vooruit is the new alderwoman for public education, youth and child care. Alderwoman Anaïs Maes of the same party is in charge of urban planning, public spaces, mobility and Dutch-language education. Clémentine Buggenhout (MR+) is alderwoman for civil status, seniors and smart city policy.

Nawal Ben Hamou (PS) will be in charge of Housing, Equal Opportunities, Tourism and Major Events, although she will be replaced in the College until the end of her term as Brussels Secretary of State. The other members of the College are Anas Ben Abdelmoumen (PS), David Weytsman (MR+), Frederik Ceulemans (MR+) and Didier Wauters (Les Engagés).

49-member City Council

The 49-member City Council of Brussels also was installed on Sunday. Bart Dhondt and Benoit Hellings of Ecolo-Groen left the council benches, while outgoing federal minister for pensions Karine Lalieux (PS-Vooruit) is returning to the city council. Khalid Zian (PS-Vooruit) and Lotte Stoops (Ecolo-Groen) are also taking seats on the council, which will be chaired by Mr. Alain Courtois of MR+. ​ 

Together with the City of Brussels, 17 of the 19 municipal councils and colleges of the Brussels region were installed on Sunday, including those of Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe, Auderghem, Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Anderlecht, Jette and Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. 

^{BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE}