Greens advance across the Brussels Region
There are big gains for the greens of Ecolo-Groen across the 19 municipalities of the Brussels region. The Flemish nationalists haven't been able to make any significant inroads despite a bilingual campaign in the capital. The Francophone socialists incur losses in many municipalities, but remain the largest party in the City of Brussels.
Despite three different mayors in quick succession the Francophone socialists stay biggest party on the council of the City of Brussels. The greens of Ecolo-Groen make significant gains. The Flemish nationalists didn't make any headway. The Flemish socialists are on course for representation on the City of Brussels council now they fielded candidates on a separate list for the first time.
Green gains in the City are mirrored in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, Ukkel, Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Schaarbeek and Etterbeek. The party of Olivier Deleuze, the only green mayor in the capital region, increases its share in Watermaal-Bosvoorde by 12%. In Elsene the greens are biggest party with a third of the vote.
Polls forecast up to 6% for the Flemish nationalists in several Brussels municipalities. It was not to be. In the City, Schaarbeek and Ukkel the N-VA polls between 2% and 3%, in Anderlecht around 4%. The Flemish nationalists do better in Sint-Agatha-Berchem: around 7% and in Ganshoren: nearly 7%.
The Francophone socialists lose ground in several Brussels municipalities. There are big losses in the City, in Schaarbeek and Ukkel, though in Molenbeek the bilingual socialist lists picks up a third of the vote to become the largest party. There are losses for the outgoing liberal mayor Francoise Schepmans.