WhatsApp Message Reveals Alleged Political Favoritism in Brussels Social Housing

Lotfi Mostefa, the president of the Foyer anderlechtois social housing board, has been temporarily suspended by the board following revelations about his management. This decision, however, is contested by Mostefa and the Socialist Party (PS), which is leveraging regional oversight to keep him in place.

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Coucou Lotfi, S.L. really helped a lot for the campaign… Can you check his application file at the Foyer? Kisses, Isa

The political power struggle is unfolding against a backdrop of broader ethical concerns. As a parliamentary inquiry begins, a series of internal communications, including SMS and WhatsApp messages, have surfaced, revealing a system of direct solicitations involving political figures from nearly all parties. One particular WhatsApp message, exchanged between Brussels MP Isabelle Emmery (PS) and Lotfi Mostefa, illustrates what appears to be a direct request to reward electoral support.

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Ok, I'll receive him

"Coucou Lotfi, S.L. really helped a lot for the campaign… Can you check his application file at the Foyer? Kisses, Isa," wrote Emmery shortly after the May 2024 regional elections. Mostefa responded, "Ok, I'll receive him," and exchanges with his secretary at the time confirm that a follow-up was immediately ordered to check the candidate's "ranking."

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There are no shortcuts at the Foyer anderlechtois, but the affair is being instrumentalized to discredit social housing!

Neither Emmery, Mostefa, the director of the Foyer Laurent Gabele, nor Karine Lalieux, president of the PS's Brussels federation, officially responded to questions from La Libre regarding whether this intervention secured the housing. The PS maintains that administrative procedures were respected and that no preferential treatment occurred. However, Marcela Gori, the vice-president of the Foyer from the MR party, disputes this, denouncing a "clandestine derogation committee" allegedly established in 2021 to circumvent waiting lists. She accuses Mostefa of exceeding his authority by taking on an executive role within the Foyer, disregarding its statutes.

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The president of the board is supposed to represent the Foyer, give speeches, etc... But certainly not to handle individual files or give instructions to staff.