Election posters once again authorised in Molenbeek shops

The Brussels region has overturned a ban imposed by Molenbeek that prevented the putting up of election campaign posters in the commune’s shop windows.

The U-turn was praised by Molenbeek’s Socialist politicians. Coalition partner the centre-right Mouvement Reformateur had been in favour of the poster ban.

Welcoming the news, Brussels minister Bernard Clerfayt, responsible for local authorities, said it was “not up to local municipalities to introduce their own regulation on candidates’ election posters,” adding that freedom of expression is key.

The Socialist (PS) and MR parties had been fighting for months over this regulation passed on 31 May against the wishes of Molenbeek’s Socialist mayor Catherine Moureaux.

Local PS group leader Khalil Boufraquech had questioned the legality of the motion, and asked the Brussels government to examine it.

“I did this not only because we’re against it for political reasons and we think posters are part of a democracy, but also because the motion simply goes against freedom of expression,” he told Bruzz.

“I’m glad that the motion is being revised, but it is also the logic itself. We live in a state governed by the rule of law.”

Meanwhile local MR group leader Didier Milis, whose party put forward the motion to remove the posters, told La Dernière Heure he had no intention of simply accepting this ruling. He argues that posters constitute a form of “visual pollution” and should only be allowed in areas specifically designated for election purposes.

The Brussels government’s decision means that similar decisions in Saint-Gilles and Anderlecht communes will not go through. Forest is not affected as its municipal council introduced a voluntary charter, not a formal ordinance.

Belgium’s European and regional elections have already taken place, on 9 June, but people are already preparing for the 13 October local elections. It remains to be seen if election posters will re-appear in shops in the Socialist-run communes of Saint-Gilles and Anderlecht in the run up to the local elections.

Shopkeepers themselves have expressed mixed feelings about campaign materials. One restaurant owner told BX1 before the June elections that “it can be hard to only have posters from one party, so now I have one of all the parties to please everyone”.

Many Molenbeek shop owners questioned why there was anything wrong in displaying a campaign poster, particularly when they were allowed in the capital’s other 18 communes.