The Brussels regional government has been plunged into crisis by revelations of alleged clientelism, favouritism and possible corruption in the allocation of social housing in Anderlecht, one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, directly implicating prominent Socialist Party (PS) figure Lotfi Mostefa.
The Flemish liberal party Anders (formerly Open Vld) has threatened to leave the coalition over the case, and one MP was quoted by Brussels media outlet Bruzz saying the majority might fall.
The housing company, the Foyer Anderlechtois, said it was co-operating fully and had handed over all requested documents to investigators.
Lotfi Mostefa, the PS alderman for housing in Anderlecht and president of the Foyer Anderlechtois — the largest social housing company in Brussels, managing around 3,800 units and employing some 142 staff — stands accused of systematically interfering in housing allocations for political gain.
An investigative report by the Flemish public broadcaster VRT’s programme Pano, broadcast in mid-May and based on 18 months of research and hundreds of voice messages and documents, set out widespread allegations that Mostefa personally influenced social housing allocations.
Testimonies from employees and applicants describe political pressure and favouritism towards PS supporters or voters, with social investigations allegedly conducted or altered directly in Mostefa’s office.
Some candidates received preferential treatment and accelerated procedures, while others waited up to 13 years. There are also suspicions of clientelism and even corruption in exchange for political loyalty. According to the testimonies, some residents even sent proof that they had voted for Mostefa, apparently hoping for a favour in return.
Mostefa denies all wrongdoing, describing the revelations as a “political and media cabal” against him and the PS. He claims he is the victim of a smear campaign. He has since asked to be heard by the Brussels Parliament, saying that social housing is “an essential mission” and that tenants and applicants “have a right to clear answers”.
Safouane Akremi, a former president of the company and a Dutch-speaking socialist, is also believed to have intervened in the granting of social housing in Anderlecht, according to VRT.
This is the fourth judicial investigation involving the Foyer Anderlechtois, adding to three already under way — one of which has reached the formal investigation stage.
The Brussels public prosecutor’s office opened the new probe after the broadcast and transferred it to the Central Office for the Repression of Corruption (OCRC).
Earlier cases involved alleged bribery — including a secretary who was dismissed and accused of corruption — and anonymous whistleblower complaints. The secretary, who was let go for a breach of trust, denies the accusations and says she has been made a scapegoat.
The affair has reignited long-standing accusations of systemic clientelism in Brussels socialist strongholds and deepened public distrust in the management of social housing.
The scandal has fractured the coalition in Anderlecht, with the fallout spreading to the rest of the Brussels-Capital Region.
Coalition partners the francophone liberal MR and the centrist Les Engagés have publicly called on Mostefa to step aside temporarily as alderman and chairman of the Foyer while the inquiry runs its course.
Ecolo and the Flemish nationalist N-VA are pushing for a full parliamentary inquiry into all Brussels social housing companies.
Anders president Frédéric De Gucht said the party would leave the regional government if no inquiry committee were set up.
“If social housing is allocated based on political favours rather than need, it’s a betrayal of the very people it’s meant to serve. Ordinary Brussels families who’ve waited for years on a list are pushed aside simply because they don’t know the right people. That’s not a governance mistake, it’s why people lose faith in politics,” he said.
“We won’t sweep this under the rug. An investigative committee isn’t an option; it’s an obligation, not to the opposition, not to the press, but to every Brussels resident who still has a shred of trust in this region.” He said that if the government proved unable to act, leaving it remained on the table.
In the 2024 municipal elections, Mostefa received 3,590 preference votes — the highest score for any Socialist in the municipality and the second-highest of any candidate, ahead of the mayor, Fabrice Cumps.
The Flemish nationalist party Vlaams Belang was unimpressed by De Gucht’s move.
“After literally decades of governance by the same party, ‘Anders’ suddenly realises that corruption might occasionally happen in Brussels. Completely unbelievable,” Brussels representative Bob De Brabandere said.
The Brussels regional coalition has always been politically fragile, having taken 613 days to form — among the longest government formations the region has seen — but appears to be unravelling little more than 100 days into its term.
