The City of Brussels has been officially proclaimed the European Capital of Democracy for 2026 by an initiative linked to the Council of Europe.
The announcement was made today following a vote by more than 5,500 European citizens from 46 Council of Europe member states plus Kosovo.
Brussels beat shortlisted rivals Ankara and Denizli in Turkey after submitting a candidacy under the slogan “Brussels must be DemoCrazy”.
The bid highlighted the city’s projects on local participation, democratic innovation and neighbourhood-level democracy.
Mayor Philippe Close, of the Belgian Socialist Party (PS) and Alderman for Citizen Participation Frederik Ceulemans, of the Anders party, said the award “emphasises this local dimension by recognising cities that create meaningful opportunities for participation and democratic innovation”.
They added: “Cities are freedom fighters for democratic principles. Democracy is not only shaped in parliaments or at the European level, but especially also in neighbourhoods, public spaces, and city halls.”
As title holder, Brussels will host a year of projects, debates and events focused on citizen participation and democratic renewal.
The award comes as the City of Brussels and its surrounding area continue to grapple with practical governance difficulties and rising crime.
It took nearly two years after the June 2024 regional elections for the Brussels-Capital Region, of which the City is the largest municipality, to form a new government.
This prolonged impasse has delayed decisive action on budgets and services, contributing to concerns over rising debt levels that have approached €16 billion regionally.
The city has also seen repeated controversies over the hosting of conservative events, with a local left-wing political movement Antifa-chapter being aggressive against the freedom of conservatives to meet.
There are also concerns about Islamist networks in Brussels, with alleged infiltration by Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups through NGOs and local associations.
Brussels famously also houses unelected European bureaucrats, for example at the European Commission, who make decisions affecting the entire continent.
The Muslim Brotherhood has achieved so much influence in Brussels that local politicians now need its support to win elections, according to a French academic who researches the organisation. @FBBlackler https://t.co/LNoE64XzGu
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) February 23, 2024
