Political Shake-up in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean: Saliha Raiss Becomes First Veiled Alderwoman, Stirring Controversy

2023-07-13 14:26:00

On Wednesday, politician Saliha Raiss (Vooruit) was appointed to take over the alderman hitherto attributed to Jef Van Damme, who resigned, in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean.

Following this departure, Saliha Raiss will assume the powers of Public Works, Municipal Property, Childcare and Dutch-speaking Education within this municipality to the west of the capital.

An appointment which may seem trivial but which is not for everyone: she will be the first alderwoman wearing the veil in the Brussels-Capital Region, since 2006, when Mariem Bouselmati also became an alderman in Molenbeek. An element that challenges the president of the MR, Georges-Louis Bouchez.

“Occupying a function of authority such as that of alderman is not compatible with wearing an ostentatious sign of conviction” launches Bouchez on Twitter. “The only obedience of a member of the executive shall be to the constitution and the laws.”

The politician then spoke on behalf of his party. “The MR advocates meritocracy, which it may encounter, but also state neutrality for its officials and agents of authority.”

To conclude, Georges-Louis Bouchez launched a small pike to the president of Vooruit, Conner Rousseau by indicating: “What does Conner Rousseau think following his declarations on Brussels?”. As a reminder, Rousseau had declared last April that, when he drove in Molenbeek, he either “did not feel in Belgium”.

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