Lotfi Mostefa Refuses to Answer Brussels MPs in Housing Scandal Hearing
Lotfi Mostefa, the embattled president of the Foyer Anderlechtois social housing company and PS alderman for housing in Anderlecht, appeared before the Brussels Parliament’s inquiry commission on Thursday evening and delivered a 30-minute prepared statement denying all allegations of clientelism — only to immediately invoke his right to silence and refuse to answer any questions from MPs. The hearing, which lasted less than two hours, marked the first time Mostefa had broken his public silence since a VRT Pano investigation in May 2026 revealed hundreds of messages allegedly showing him influencing social housing allocations.
Context
The Foyer Anderlechtois (Anderlechtse Haard) is the second-largest social housing provider in the Brussels Region, managing approximately 4,100 housing units for more than 8,000 residents. With a waiting list of nearly 30,000 families and waits exceeding 10 years, the company has been at the center of a widening scandal since the Pano investigation broadcast in May 2026 revealed that a social housing unit was allegedly allocated to a man who was 9,821st on the waiting list — and who was in prison at the time.
A judicial investigation is ongoing, led by the federal police’s Central Office for Combating Corruption. Mostefa was removed from the board of the Foyer Anderlechtois on June 15 by the MR, Les Engagés, and Anders parties, though the PS has contested the legality of that decision.
Key Developments
Accompanied by his two lawyers, Mostefa appeared before the commission on Thursday evening. According to La Libre Belgique, he swore an oath and delivered a lengthy monologue denying all allegations of favoritism and cronyism in the allocation of social housing. His central defense was captured in the quote: “Being available is not patronage” (“Être disponible, ce n’est pas du clientélisme”).
“I trust justice. Only justice. I will not answer your questions and I exercise my right to silence,” Mostefa told the commission, according to reports from L’Avenir. He added that his silence was not a choice but a necessity to avoid compromising the ongoing judicial investigation, stating: “Silence is not my choice.”
Mostefa further defended himself by arguing that he does not personally decide who receives housing: “One can say what one wants: it is not I who decides who receives a housing unit, not I who processes the files, not I who prepares the social reports, not I who selects the housing units, not I who validates the allocations.”
The MR party, which leads the inquiry commission, expressed deep frustration. Clémentine Barzin (MR) stated: “Mr. Mostefa had the opportunity to enlighten parliamentarians, to provide his version of the facts and to contribute himself to the improvement of social housing that he is supposed to defend. He preferred silence. We deplore this given the scale of the irregularities reported to us.”
Aurélie Czekalski (MR), vice-president of the inquiry commission, added: “I regret that our commission was considered a platform, but never in a constructive spirit, nor of democratic accountability.”
Analysis
Mostefa’s strategy of delivering a prepared statement without submitting to questions has left the commission frustrated and the public with more questions than answers. Bertin Mampaka (MR), president of the commission, acknowledged that Mostefa’s choice not to answer parliamentarians was within his rights but noted that “it leaves gray areas that citizens are entitled to see clarified.”
The hearing came on the same day that Marcela Gori (MR), acting president of the Foyer Anderlechtois, testified for eight hours under oath behind closed doors. Gori has described the administration as “padlocked” (“cadenassée”) and stated that the Foyer cannot function under current conditions as long as Mostefa remains president.
Adding to the pressure, the Brussels Regional Housing Association (SLRB) issued its second warning to the Foyer Anderlechtois on Friday, with potential trusteeship looming if the situation does not improve.
What’s Next
The inquiry commission’s work has been complicated by the resignation of its rapporteur, Marie Cruysmans (Les Engagés), on June 30, and by Mostefa’s refusal to cooperate. The commission’s final report, expected in the coming months, will determine whether policy recommendations emerge from the scandal.
Meanwhile, the parallel judicial investigation will determine whether criminal charges are brought against Mostefa. He has filed a counter-complaint for slander and defamation, and the PS continues to defend him, with Anderlecht Mayor Fabrice Cumps arguing that the leaked messages were “taken out of context.”
The SLRB’s warning raises the possibility that the Foyer Anderlechtois could be placed under trusteeship — a dramatic step that would reshape governance of Brussels’ second-largest social housing provider and potentially affect thousands of waiting families.