Former Belgian MP Hicham Imane Pivots from Politics to Airport Career

"In 2018, just after the municipal elections for which I had invested myself 200% as in my mandates, I did not obtain the expected electoral score. It was therefore time for me to ask myself the question of my future," confides Hicham Imane to the website La Libre. From a career in the hotel industry to the manager of the "Chez ta mère" café, Place de la Digue in Charleroi, taken over with friends, the Covid-19 pandemic forced him to turn to another sector of activity. "Covid came to stop everything. I told myself that I had to find another solution." He then turns to the profession of heavy goods vehicle driver, which is in short supply in southern Belgium.

The Belgian-Moroccan passes the various heavy goods vehicle licenses as well as those allowing the transport of dangerous products. "From there, we have a job right away," he explains. Then begins his difficult life as a trucker. "I was on the road for two to three days without coming home. I went to France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. It’s a dangerous job too, it’s a difficult life, life on the road. It’s complicated, so when I saw that Charleroi airport was looking for a refueler, I applied." But "it didn’t take off," says this father of a family, feeling that his political past did not help.

Fortune smiles on him at Liège airport, which was also looking to strengthen its team of refuelers. "They welcomed me with open arms. Here the atmosphere is extraordinary, the airport never stops, it is in full development and we do not lack work. I work from 6pm to 6am or from 6am to 6pm." Solid days still, but the fatigue is offset by "the pleasure of doing this job". What the former MP is also delighted about is the training: "We are constantly being trained. It’s really a pleasant surprise. This job has given me a breath of fresh air. We have to manage the kerosene, its quality and all the safety aspects related to our job, which is not just about refueling planes."

This new passion does not make Hicham Imane forget his political commitment. "It’s the fight for the people that I miss," he confides. With his ASBL "La faim du mois" created in 2015, in Charleroi, he distributes food parcels, cooked meals but also clothes to those in need. But some problems remain: the rise in energy prices and the housing problem. The former president of the public housing company of greater Charleroi, La Sambrienne, plans to run again in the municipal elections scheduled for October 2024. "My intention is to continue to fight against precariousness. I’m not saying that those in power haven’t done anything, on the contrary, but I think more needs to be done."