The mayor of Anderlecht, Fabrice Cumps (PS), has announced that the eviction scheduled for Tuesday will be postponed “within a reasonable time frame” following a risk assessment conducted by the local police.
He explained during a gathering outside the town hall that although he lacks the authority to prevent the eviction, he is responsible for public safety. “Considering the mobilisation and the presence of children, the bailiff has been informed that the police will not assist in the eviction,” he stated. The mayor now aims to use this time to reopen dialogue with the property owner.
Following this announcement, a delegation from the collective was received by the mayor’s chief of staff and the head of the Brussels-Midi police zone. “While they showed their support, they reminded us that the eviction threat remains,” said Lucas, a supporter of the collective. An anti-eviction festival will still take place on Tuesday at Aviation Square.
Around 70 undocumented individuals, including about a dozen children, have been occupying a former union building at Aviation Square, near Boulevard Poincaré in Anderlecht, since March. They received an eviction notice on 3 July, effective 15 July. The building owner, Staring Real Estate, plans to convert the site into a hotel, and a planning permission application is underway.
The municipality advocates for a temporary supervised occupation until the commencement of construction. The collective challenges the eviction process, claiming it was obtained through a unilateral request without a legal basis. An appeal has been filed, but the hearing will occur only after the initially scheduled eviction date.
