Saint-Josse election re-run sees Emir Kir win

After the elections for Brussels municipality Saint-Josse-ten-Noode were re-run following suspicions of election fraud on the part of incumbent mayor Emir Kir, a landslide victory has been determined in his favour.

Five parties participated in the second race: the Mayor's List (Kir, running under no official party), PS, Ecolo-Green, Les Engagés-MR (with CD&V and Open VLD) and Team Fouad Ahidar.

With 18 out of 29 seats, Bruzz reports that the Mayor's List did one seat better than in October 2024 and in 2018. Kir obtained 4,227 preferential votes, 51 more than in October, even despite a significantly lower turnout in this election than last time.

“I may be party-less, but my party is the people,” Kir said in response.

In the invalidated elections of 13 October, the mayor's list won 50.5% of the vote, which translated into 17 of the 29 seats to be distributed. Kir has now secured 55.6% of the vote.

The remaining seat distribution remains unchanged - six for the PS party, four for Ecolo-Groen and one for Les Engagés-MR.

Kir's challenger Philippe Boïketé (PS) failed to win more seats. Team Fouad Ahidar came empty-handed, despite earlier expressing hopes of at least one and maybe several seats.

Analysis of the victory points to Kir’s status as "the face" of the municipality, meaning that many supporters see attacks on him as attacks on all the residents of Saint-Josse. A large part of the commune’s residents, especially but not only those of Turkish origin, identify with him.

“We had bad press – your votes were labelled as fraudulent,” Kir told his supporters in his victory speech, accusing his political opponents as conducting “verbal aggression” and tarnishing the municipality’s reputation and image.

“But in a democracy, you have to respect the people. I have no party, like most of my team. But the people are the most beautiful party.”

Given the landslide, Kir does not need a coalition partner to form a new municipal government, but may still opt for a coalition in order to increase his clout.

Team Fouad Ahidar is out of the question for its failure to gain even one seat, leaving only Les Engagés-MR as a possible coalition partner.