Anderlecht: improving transparency, livestream debate

A large working-class municipality in digital transition

Anderlecht is the third most populated municipality in the Brussels Region, with over 123,000 inhabitants. Historically working-class and multicultural, it faces significant challenges in housing, employment, and social cohesion.

Transparency: 4 out of 6 criteria

Anderlecht meets four of the six BGM monitoring criteria. The budget is published online, municipal council minutes are accessible, the mandate registry is available, and the municipality has a citizen participation platform (Decidim). However, it does not have its own Open Data portal, and the council livestream is classified as "partial" due to debates over its continuation.

Citizen participation: Decidim

Anderlecht uses the Decidim platform (participez.anderlecht.be) to allow citizens to propose and debate municipal projects. Participatory budgets by neighbourhood are organised regularly.

The livestream question

Anderlecht's municipal council introduced a livestream of its sessions, but this has been subject to debate regarding its continuation. Some elected officials have questioned the cost and usefulness of the system. BGM classifies this indicator as "partial" as long as the livestream is not guaranteed as a permanent practice.

Budget 2026 and new taxes

Anderlecht's 2026 budget is presented as balanced and submitted for council vote on 5 March 2026. Among the new tax measures: a tax on hookah tobacco outlets and a tax on fast-food restaurants. The resident parking card increases from 15 to 30 EUR.

CPAS under pressure

Anderlecht's CPAS (Public Centre for Social Welfare) faces growing pressure, with approximately 6,000 recipients of the social integration income (RIS). The CPAS budgetary situation is a major issue in municipal policy.