I too was disappointed to see how few non-EU citizens had registered to vote in the October communal elections (“Democracy, but only some of the time”, 6-12 September). I have to declare an interest: I am a candidate on the list of the Parti Socialiste/Socialistische Partij Anders for the central district of Brussels (Brussels 1000) and a member of the British Labour party.
The reason I decided to stand as a candidate is simple: I live here and I want to improve this city, its administration, our cre`ches and our schools. I am committed to cleaning up the city, and to making it calmer and safer for all of us.
I want to help open up the administration to non-Belgian EU citizens (and others too) and also to make it possible to do more administrative things online.
I have spent many years listening to colleagues and friends complain about how the administration and politics of our city have failed them. We need to get over our separation from, and frequently antagonism with, the city in which we live.
And that is why I am standing (and there are several other non-Belgian EU candidates too): to promote an open-minded Brussels, to represent the views of our European population, and to give a voice to those of us whose lives will be spent here, but whose political rights have rarely been properly exercised in our city.
I am looking forward to meeting everyone who has registered to vote.
Let's work to make Brussels better for all.
Josephine Wood Brussels
