Emir Kir, the mayor of Brussels inner city borough Sint-Joost-ten-Node is not appealing against the decision to declare the results of last October’s municipal elections in the borough invalid. Mayor Kir had eight days to appeal to the council of state, but will not do so. This means there will be new elections in Brussels’ smallest, but densely populated municipality.
At the beginning of last week, it emerged that the court liked to the Brussels regional parliament had annulled the election results in Sint-Joost. It did so following complaints from several parties, Francophone ecologist Ecolo, Francophone socialist PS and minority rights party Team Fouad Ahidar, Kir's political opponents. The court found all kinds of irregularities with regard to proxy voting.
50 proxies had been signed by Mr Kir himself on election day, which is not allowed. With regard to another set of proxies, there was no evidence that voters were effectively prevented from voting on election day. A number of proxies were also unsigned.
As a result of the court’s decision, residents of Sint-Joost had to go to the polls again, unless Mayor Kir appealed to the council of state. Mr Kir had eight days to appeal to the council of state, Belgium’s highest administrative court, but has now announced that he will not do so. This means the municipality has to organise new elections within 50 days.
In a response on Facebook, Mr Kir says he does not want to leave the municipality 'in 3 months of uncertainty’.
On 13 October, Emir Kir won the election with an absolute majority. If new elections are held, Mr Kir can return as mayor. A judicial investigation into possible electoral fraud by the Brussels public prosecutor's office is still ongoing. If Mr Kir or other politicians are found guilty, that may well have an impact on their electability.