Brussels Inquiry Orders Seizure in Anderlechtois Scandal
The Brussels parliamentary inquiry commission investigating the Foyer Anderlechtois social housing scandal has escalated its probe by ordering a liaison magistrate to seize documents that the housing association has refused to voluntarily hand over, RTBF reported on Monday. The move marks a significant hardening of the commission’s approach as it races to meet a July 21 deadline for its final report.
Context: A Housing Scandal Unfolds
Foyer Anderlechtois (Anderlechtse Haard in Dutch) is a public social housing company managing approximately 3,800 to 4,100 housing units for over 8,000 low-income residents in the Brussels municipality of Anderlecht. The scandal erupted after VRT’s flagship investigative program Pano aired a documentary in late May 2026, alleging cronyism, political interference, and mismanagement in housing allocations.
According to The Brussels Times, the 45-minute documentary showcased testimonies alleging extensive interference by Foyer Anderlechtois chairman Lotfi Mostefa, a prominent Socialist Party (PS) figure who also serves as Anderlecht’s housing alderman. Hundreds of voice messages reportedly demonstrated Mostefa’s alleged personal influence over who receives social housing.
The Commission’s Escalation
A parliamentary inquiry commission possesses the same powers as an investigating judge, including the authority to carry out document seizures. Commission president Bertin Mampaka (MR) stated that Foyer Anderlechtois had invoked multiple reasons for refusing to transmit requested documents: some had already been seized by investigators, others had disappeared, communicating certain data would allegedly violate GDPR, and some documents were reportedly too difficult to transmit within 48 hours or required excessive staff resources.
These explanations failed to convince commission members, leading to Monday’s decision to involve a liaison magistrate. The commission will also request access from the Brussels Prosecutor General to documents already seized in the parallel judicial investigation.
Broader Investigation
The scandal has triggered multiple investigations. Three probes were already underway before the Pano broadcast, and a fourth was opened afterward, placed with the Central Office for Combating Corruption (CDBC/OCRC). On May 28, Brussels police conducted searches at Foyer Anderlechtois premises, as The Brussels Times confirmed.
The Brussels Parliament voted on June 5 to establish the inquiry commission, which held its first meeting on June 8 and elected its bureau. The commission is composed of 15 members representing all major political groups, with Mampaka presiding. Its mandate is to examine possible dysfunctions in the housing association’s operations, including allocation procedures, staff recruitment, and public contract attribution.
Political Fallout
The scandal has become politically charged, with opposition parties accusing the PS of clientelism and cronyism. N-VA Brussels MP Mathias Vanden Borre described the situation as “the result of years of clientelist policies by the PS,” according to the N-VA website. He pointed to an audit report citing “fraud in housing allocations, document manipulation, conflicts of interest, and a near-total absence of internal controls.”
Tensions have also emerged within the commission itself. On June 18, hearings were delayed by nearly two hours due to bureau disagreements over the witness list. Meanwhile, the commission faces an exceptionally compressed timeline, with a deadline of July 21 to deliver its final report.
What’s Next
The document seizure ordered on Monday could yield critical evidence, potentially leading to criminal charges. The commission will also consider a request from members Zakia Khattabi (Ecolo) and Imane Belguenani (Anders) to hear Foyer staff behind closed doors to protect the integrity of their testimonies.
As the July 21 deadline approaches, the inquiry commission’s work will be closely watched for its findings on systemic failures in Brussels’ social housing system, where over 60,000 families remain on waiting lists. The case has already prompted calls for far-reaching reforms, including N-VA’s “A Roof for Brussels” plan, which advocates for a single regional housing company and stricter oversight mechanisms.