Brussels, 21 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bertin Mampaka Mankamba has been re-elected as Brussels Parliament president as the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region officially opened its new session on Monday morning. Mampaka, a member of the liberal MR party, has led the regional assembly since the June 2024 elections.
Mampaka confirmed for new parliamentary session
Mampaka was reconfirmed alongside the parliament’s bureau as MPs returned to regular parliamentary business. The bureau oversees the organisation and day-to-day functioning of the assembly, including administrative and parliamentary matters.
One change was made to its composition. Sofia Bennani replaced Mounir Laarissi as the representative of Les Engagés.
The Brussels Parliament has 89 elected members. Mampaka has held several parliamentary positions during his political career, including vice-president and first secretary of the regional parliament. He also served as a Belgian senator between 2014 and 2019.
Mampaka outlines parliament’s financial savings
Opening the parliamentary year, Mampaka focused on the financial pressures facing Brussels and said the legislature should apply spending discipline to its own operations.
“The region must once again create room for policy. It must be able to invest and, to do so, put its finances in order,” Mampaka said, according to BRUZZ.
He said the parliament is already making savings equivalent to 10% of its annual budget, which totals €62 million. Mampaka intends to propose keeping the budget at the same level this year despite higher costs and prices. Resources allocated to the parliamentary presidency are also 20% lower than under previous presidencies, he said.
Last year, remuneration for Brussels’ 89 MPs was reduced by 5%. Combined with the non-indexation of salaries until 2029, the cost of regional parliamentarians is expected to fall by at least 15% by the end of the legislature, according to estimates cited by BRUZZ.
Mampaka calls for action during remaining term
The re-elected Brussels Parliament president also used his opening speech to emphasise the time remaining before the next regional elections.
“We still have 33 months to act, make decisions and achieve results,” Mampaka said.
He said Brussels was emerging from an unusually long political and institutional crisis and called for renewed trust in the regional parliament. Mampaka said residents expect concrete responses on housing affordability, employment, mobility, safety and opportunities for children.
Re-election maintains leadership continuity
Mampaka’s confirmation keeps the leadership of the regional assembly unchanged as the new parliamentary year begins. Official parliamentary records show he has served as president of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region since June 2024.
His re-election also comes as Brussels institutions face continued scrutiny over public spending and the region’s financial position.
Parliament begins new session under Mampaka
The Brussels Parliament president will now oversee plenary proceedings and parliamentary scrutiny throughout the new session.
With the presidency and bureau confirmed, MPs return to legislative work as the assembly addresses regional finances and other policy priorities during the remaining 33 months of the parliamentary term.
