Saint-Gilles: active participation, no livestream

A dense and vibrant municipality

Saint-Gilles is a dense municipality of nearly 50,000 inhabitants over 2.53 km², known for its cultural life and social diversity. The PS-Ecolo coalition was renewed for the 2024-2030 term. The PTB became the second political force (24.4%, 9 seats).

Transparency: 3 out of 6 criteria

The budget is published online and the mandate registry is accessible via the transparency page. Citizen participation is active with the Citizen Budget Midi (EUR 300,000) and a permanent citizen council. However, no confirmed council livestream, minutes are only partially online, and no Open Data portal.

Citizen participation: Citizen Budget Midi

Saint-Gilles stands out with its Citizen Budget Midi of EUR 300,000 via the 21solutions platform, garnering 6,738 votes. A permanent citizen council complements the participatory framework.

Recent developments

The Saint-Gilles prison, whose closure had long been announced, will see its use extended until 2035 under the federal Masterplan III penitentiary programme. On 3 March 2026, the Water Bearer statue (iconic fountain on the parvis) was removed for restoration.

Escalation of drug-related violence (15-18 April 2026)

Three serious incidents hit Saint-Gilles over four nights, in the context of a territorial war between criminal organisations linked to drug trafficking.

Reaction from Mayor Jean Spinette (PS): scene described as "hallucinatory", particularly after a school was directly hit. He speaks of "gangrene" for the municipality and calls for reinforced investigative capacity. Explicit stance: "Brussels does not need soldiers, but investigators and patrols to secure residents' nights."

Police deployment: reinforced presence announced day and night, mobilisation of the communal Prevention Service, additional federal resources. A meeting with affected residents is organised with police and the prevention service.

Sources: RTBF (18 April 2026); BX1 — reinforced deployment (18 April); BX1 — rue de Bosnie (16 April); La DH (16 April); L'Avenir (18 April). Confidence: official (police, mayor, corroborating press).

Barrière de Saint-Gilles works: public transport chaos (June-July 2026)

A new phase of tram track renovation works on Avenue du Parc (Barrière de Saint-Gilles) began in late June 2026, causing major disruption: tram lines 81 and 97 are cut, replacement bus 96 is overcrowded. GUTIB (a public transport users' association) denounces a lack of coordination between the works. Mayor Jean Spinette formally requested a works coordination meeting and better communication to residents from regional Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt. The works phase runs until 23 August 2026, according to the official regional project.

Urban planning: rue Émile Féron is transformed (15 July 2026)

An urban planning permit has been issued to redevelop rue Émile Féron, rue Joseph Claes and adjacent sections in the Midi neighbourhood, as part of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Contract Midi: planting of 270 trees, one-way traffic, traffic calming and rainwater management. Works are planned for spring 2027, over two years.

Drug trafficking at Place Jacques Franck: two convictions

The Brussels criminal court sentenced two people for cocaine trafficking at Place Jacques Franck, to 12 months suspended imprisonment and a sentence of 20 months partly served, following an arrest on 2 December 2025 after police surveillance. This ruling follows on from the drug-related crime already documented in the municipality in April 2026.

Sources: BX1, be.brussels (June-July 2026, Barrière works); DH (3 July 2026, Spinette's request); DH, L'Avenir, BX1 (15-16 July 2026, rue Émile Féron); BX1, SevenRadio (15-16 July 2026, convictions).

Childcare licence suspended for three months by the Flemish agency Opgroeien (25 July 2026)

The licence of the Dream Land childcare facility, located on communal territory, has been suspended since 22 June 2026 for three months.

Which level of government? The decision comes from the Flemish agency Opgroeien ("Growing Up"), competent for Dutch-speaking early-years childcare facilities, including those located in the Brussels-Capital Region. It comes neither from the commune nor from the ONE (the French Community's birth and childhood office). This is a direct illustration of the Brussels regime for person-related matters: on the same territory, childcare depends on the community authority the facility falls under.

Grounds cited — repeated deficiencies concerning:

• the ratio of children present to carers
• the organisation of care
• quality assurance
• the pedagogical approach
• safety, health and hygiene

Scale. The facility had a capacity of 16 places but was caring for only 7 children. According to the operator, 5 of the 7 found childcare elsewhere. The operator contests the decision.

Source: VRT NWS (25 July 2026). Confidence: unconfirmed (decision confirmed to the press by the Opgroeien agency; the suspension act itself was not consulted).