Political tensions at the top of the Brussels government have boiled over following a high-stakes meeting regarding leadership appointments at regional institutions, ending without an agreement and with the decision formally postponed. Ahmed Laaouej, head of the Brussels socialists, made it clear to his political partners that he refuses to yield on the matter, signaling a prolonged struggle over key administrative posts.
The Contest for Actiris Leadership and Jury Rankings
The core of the dispute centers on the leadership of Actiris, where the regional selection commission placed Isabelle Grippa in second position with a score of 52.5 out of 60. She finished just behind Eric Mercenier, who scored 54 out of 60, while Stéphane Laloux, the current director ad interim and former chief of cabinet to Rudi Vervoort, rounded out the top trio. In its conclusions, the jury described Laloux as the “profil le plus solide parmi l’ensemble des candidats.”
Despite finishing second, Isabelle Grippa’s candidacy boasts significant backing, including eight years leading Hub.brussels, previous experience as an expert at Actiris, and a well-established path through socialist cabinets. The selection jury specifically praised the “très bonne qualité” of her performance during the evaluation process.
Around the executive table, Ahmed Laaouej deployed a parity argument to bolster her selection. He pointed out that appointing a man as the general director of Actiris—given that the anticipated deputy director is already male—would reduce female representation on the management committee to zero out of six members. Supporters of the socialist leader also emphasize the narrow point differential separating the top candidates.
Coalition Dynamics and the MR-PS Power Balance
The standoff unfolded under the watchful eye of Minister-President Boris Dilliès (MR), who maintained a distant stance throughout the proceedings. Government sources point to an underlying arrangement, noting that the deal was clear from the start: the socialist party receives Actiris, while the MR secures the CEO position of STIB. However, regional insiders caution that this division does not grant carte blanche to ignore the official rankings established by the selection jury.
Within the executive ranks, Laaouej’s stubborn insistence has sparked widespread frustration and what some observers describe as schadenfreude among political rivals watching him fight the uphill battle. Deputy Bernard Clerfayt (Défi) captured the governing dynamic with a pointed assessment, suggesting that while the MR holds the crown, the socialist camp retains real power. Regional sources indicate that coalition members have little appetite for offering Laaouej an easy victory, leaving the ultimate outcome dependent on whether Laurent Hublet can successfully stand his ground against him.
Did You Know? Since 2016, the regional executive has maintained a rule requiring officials to respect the established ranking order of selection juries. When socialists previously championed Marie-Pierre Fauconnier for the top post at Bruxelles-Environnement, they argued that bypassing the primary laureate would expose the region to legal cancellation before the Council of State.
By previously weaponizing jury rankings to enforce their own appointments, the socialists risk seeing their own precedent boomerang back against them as opponents demand strict adherence to the scores of the selection commission.
Diverging Political Histories and the Question of Alignment
Critics within the political scene note that the top-ranked candidate, Eric Mercenier, is himself a socialist, leading an observer to remark that he is simply "not the right socialist" in the eyes of Ahmed Laaouej. Mercenier’s previous tenure as chief of cabinet under Rudi Vervoort was marked by a strained cohabitation, particularly after Laaouej took control of the Brussels socialist federation in 2019. Their open clashes over urban mobility and the torpedoing of the SmartMove project highlighted deep strategic divides.
Those past policy clashes make Mercenier a more palatable option for Laurent Hublet, who favors a profile less directly aligned with the current leadership of the Brussels socialist apparatus. As the regional government continues to grapple with unresolved high-function appointments, including the ongoing case surrounding Kanal and Lotfi Mostefa, this latest confrontation underscores the deep friction shaping governance at the capital’s summit.
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