Brussels government places Saint-Josse under coercive guardianship amid financial crisis

The Brussels government has officially placed the municipality of Saint-Josse under coercive guardianship, a drastic measure triggered by a financial deficit exceeding 30 million euros. This move, championed by Brussels Minister of Local Authorities Ahmed Laaouej, signifies a severe intervention into the local administration's finances.

The municipality's financial distress is stark: it has already required three interventions from the regional refinancing fund, totaling 21 million euros. Facing further difficulties, Saint-Josse recently sought a deferral for a 7 million euro payment, highlighting its inability to meet its basic obligations.

Mayor Emir Kir, however, contests the official figures, suggesting the deficit is closer to 17 or 18 million euros. He attributes the escalating situation to "political and ego disputes," pointing to his past rivalry with Ahmed Laaouej, the president of the Brussels PS party. Kir, who was expelled from the PS in 2020, has reportedly sought support from MR president Georges-Louis Bouchez, but this lobbying appears to have been unsuccessful.

The regional executive views the crisis as more than just a budgetary issue, citing "structural problems in management and governance." The government has pointed to persistent failures in legal obligations, accounting irregularities, and significant deficiencies in human resource management as contributing factors to the municipality's deteriorating financial health. The decision to impose guardianship means a regional commissioner will now control Saint-Josse's finances.