Belgian-Moroccan Politician Fouad Ahidar Seeks Ministerial Role in Brussels Elections

Among the candidates is Fouad Ahidar, a Belgian politician of Moroccan origin, and the first Muslim to be elected to the post of 1st vice president of the Brussels parliament. From the working-class neighborhood of Molenbeek, Ahidar has led the youth center for several years, where various cultural and sports activities were organized to keep young people away from delinquency and social drift.

In 2014, he had been elected vice-president of the Brussels Parliament where, for the first time, twelve Belgians of Moroccan origin had joined the institution. He was also one of the few to have a perfect command of the Dutch language.

Fouad Ahidar is betting on these legislative elections in order to be able to bring, he says, positive changes at the level of several social sectors.

Married to a Belgian woman converted to Islam with whom he has five children, Ahidar has campaigned, while holding the position of ministerial advisor in charge of cooperation and development with the countries of the Maghreb and Africa, for Morocco to have an advanced status with the Flemish region.

Of Riffian origin, he had traveled to the Al Hoceima region, particularly to Imzouren, at the height of the Hirak movement in the Rif and had promised at the time to bring Belgian investors.