New Brussels mayor Close to drastically reduce own salary

The future mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, wants to send a clear message to the city and his party (PS) in the wake of former mayor Yvan Mayeur's corruption scandal and subsequent resignation. Close therefore announced that he will renounce his seat in the Brussels parliament as well as his presidency of the Brussels inter-communal association Vivaqua. His remuneration will therefore be limited to that of mayor.

"I will reduce my salary by 30% to 40%,” Close told public broadcaster RTBF. “With this gesture, I hope to help my party and citizens to regain the trust that I know is lost."