Belgian Political Power Couple Weds, Maintains Separate Residences for Voter Representation

After their wedding celebrated last weekend, Sammy Mahdi will continue to live in Vilvoorde (Flemish Brabant), Nawal Farih in Genk (Limburg). A choice confirmed by the federal MP. She had actually made an announcement to this effect in an interview with Het Belang van Limburg. "We both intend to continue working from our own province," she had said. "So I’m keeping my house in Genk and he’s keeping his in Vilvoorde. For the voter, it is important to have representatives with whom they can have contact."

Mahdi and Farih are not the first to combine a local mandate with a long-distance relationship. The mayor of Vilvoorde, for example, Jo De Ro (Open VLD), is in a relationship with Elisabeth Meuleman, Groen alderman in Oudenaarde. There is also the case of Katrien Partyka (CD&V), until recently mayor of Tienen, and Koen Van den Heuvel (CD&V), mayor of Puurs-Saint-Amand. Is the choice of a married couple to live separately legal? "According to the letter of the law, it is indeed mandatory to live together after marriage," explains Gerd Verschelden, professor of family law (UGent).

He adds: "But this obligation is mainly aimed at providing protection in the event that one of the two partners would be abandoned. The injured party can then turn to the court. If the two partners mutually agree, there is no problem. Other people cannot file a complaint about this either, only the two concerned can."

Thus, Mahdi and Farih will continue to run for election in their province. They will also remain municipal councilors in their own city - the domicile is a strict condition here.