Brussels PS Leader Accuses Rivals of ‘Witch Hunt’ in Housing Scandal

Brussels Socialist Party (PS) leader and regional minister Ahmed Laaouej has accused coalition partners of orchestrating a “witch hunt” against his confidant Lotfi Mostefa, following a damning investigative report by VRT NWS’s Pano program that revealed systematic political interference in social housing allocations in Anderlecht. The controversy has exposed deep fractures within the six-party Brussels regional government, formed after 600 days of negotiations.

The Pano Investigation

The Pano report, published on May 15, uncovered evidence that Mostefa — PS alderman for Housing in Anderlecht and chairman of the Anderlechtse Haard social housing company — personally influenced the allocation of social housing units. Based on hundreds of WhatsApp messages, voice recordings, and testimonies from 20 current and former employees, the investigation showed that Mostefa instructed his secretary via messaging apps about which candidates should receive priority, was present during social investigations conducted by social assistants, and made derogatory comments about a tenant who allegedly called him a “dirty Arab,” saying “No question of giving her a house.”

According to VRT NWS, employees described a category of cases internally referred to as “un dossier président” (a president’s file). The Anderlechtse Haard manages approximately 4,100 social housing units housing over 8,000 residents, with more than 29,600 families on the waiting list and an average wait time of 13 years.

Laaouej’s Defense and the ‘Witch Hunt’ Claim

On June 1, Laaouej gave his first public response to the report in an interview with RTBF. He accused authorities of conducting a “witch hunt” (chasse à l’homme) against Mostefa, invoking the presumption of innocence and claiming “double standards.” Laaouej pointed to the case of Didier Reynders (MR), the former Minister of Finance under investigation for money laundering, for whom no parliamentary inquiry commission was established. “It is unacceptable that a person’s dignity is trampled in this way,” Laaouej said.

PS national chairman Paul Magnette had earlier urged caution, stating that “an elected official can never decide alone” and that allocations are controlled by the Brussels Regional Housing Authority (BGHM).

Parliamentary Inquiry Commission

Despite PS resistance, the Brussels Parliament agreed on June 1 to establish a “short” parliamentary inquiry commission with a deadline of July 21, meeting at least three times per week. As VRT NWS reported, the PS abstained rather than voting against the measure. Anders chairman Frédéric De Gucht had threatened to leave the coalition government if no commission was established, calling it “not an option, but an absolute duty.”

Judicial Developments and Local Response

The Brussels public prosecutor’s office has opened a judicial investigation, with searches conducted on May 28 at Mostefa’s office, home, and the Anderlechtse Haard headquarters. Meanwhile, the Anderlecht College of Mayor and Aldermen decided on June 2 to take no action against Mostefa, according to BRUZZ. The PS-Vooruit majority in the college resisted calls from MR for a temporary suspension or municipal hearing.

Analysis: Coalition Under Strain

The Mostefa affair has severely tested the fragile Brussels coalition, which includes PS, MR, Anders, Vooruit, Les Engagés, and Ecolo. The PS’s unified defense of Mostefa — with Laaouej, Magnette, and PS faction leader Jamal Ikazban all emphasizing the presumption of innocence — suggests the party is circling its wagons. This strategy could backfire if the inquiry commission uncovers further evidence.

The case also reinforces longstanding perceptions of PS clientelism in Brussels politics. The Pano report’s detailed documentary evidence makes this harder to dismiss than previous allegations. The parallel judicial investigation could result in criminal charges, while the inquiry commission’s recommendations may lead to significant reforms in how social housing is allocated in the capital.

What’s Next

The inquiry commission faces a tight deadline of July 21, raising questions about whether it can conduct a thorough investigation in just seven weeks. MR group leader Loubna Azghoud has committed to requesting an extension if needed. A special board meeting of the Anderlechtse Haard is scheduled for June 4, which will be open to all municipal council members. The judicial investigation continues separately, and its findings could reshape the political landscape in Brussels well before the commission reports.