Moroccan-Belgian Politician Mariam El Hamidine Set to Become Mayor of Brussels’ Forest Municipality

After more than a year of absence from the position of mayor of Forest, Stéphane Roberti is leaving for health reasons. He announced his resignation on Tuesday evening. To continue the work started by the latter, the Ecolo group proposes Mariam El Hamidine for this vacant position, reports BX1.

"Nothing is complicated when you love and I love what I do. With the entire college, with the PS, with whom we have already worked in the past legislature, I sincerely think that we form a good team. Together, we will manage to do great things and above all we will continue to do great things. I think that with goodwill, with a lot of work, everything will go well."

Mariam El Hamidine says she did not expect Stéphane Roberti’s resignation. But she stresses that he made this decision freely and with full knowledge of the facts. For the inhabitants of Forest who woke up with the news, this resignation is rather unexpected. "I knew he was sick but that it was so serious as to lead to his resignation, it’s unexpected," explained one resident. For another, "Stéphane Roberti was an exemplary mayor who cared about his constituents." However, many are demanding the reimbursement of the salary that the outgoing mayor continued to receive while on sick leave.

At 58, Mariam El Hamidine becomes the first woman of Moroccan origin to hold this position. She defines herself as a citizen of the world and does not want to be a symbol. "I love my origins, I love Belgium and I don’t want to be locked in little boxes," she stressed.