Koekelberg: PS absolute majority, no livestream

The smallest municipality after Saint-Josse

Koekelberg is one of Brussels' smallest municipalities (1.18 km²) with 22,600 inhabitants. Ahmed Laaouej (PS) led the list to over 50% of votes but renounced the mayoralty to keep his regional deputy seat (anti-cumul rules). Olivia P'Tito was designated as mayor.

Transparency: 4 out of 6 criteria

The budget and council minutes (via the DOCODIS system) are published online, the mandate registry is accessible, and the municipality organises a participatory budget (max EUR 20,000/initiative). However, no confirmed council livestream and no Open Data portal.

Participatory budget via neighbourhood contract

Koekelberg organises a participatory budget within the Jacquet neighbourhood contract framework, with a ceiling of EUR 20,000 per initiative. A citizen assembly for climate was also organised.

2026 budget and social pressure

The municipality is proceeding with its first property tax increase in 10 years and raising the personal income tax surcharge (IPP) from 6 to 7%. The investment programme reaches EUR 23.9 million. The CPAS faces increased pressure: its allocation is up by EUR 1.4 million, largely due to 793 unemployment exclusions. The Be-Home initiative (emergency housing) has been doubled.

Simonis square redevelopment (22 April 2026)

The municipality of Koekelberg launched in April 2026 a feasibility study for the redevelopment of Eugène Simonis Square, a strategic multimodal hub in the Region.

Figures cited: ~30 000 users/day use the site, which combines metros 2 and 6, two tram lines, the NMBS/SNCB Simonis station, and bus lines from De Lijn and MIVB/STIB.

Client: Beliris. A citizen consultation is open to residents. The stated objective by the mayor is to transform the site from a "transit square" into a "meeting space with commercial potential".

No budget envelope or construction timeline have been communicated at this stage.

Source: BRUZZ (22 April 2026). Confidence: unconfirmed (political announcement, no Beliris or municipal public document yet).