Belgium's Socialist Party tightens ethics rules and mandates gender parity in sweeping statute overhaul

Ethical overhaul

The new statutes introduce a reinforced cadastre of mandates and incomes, with automatic sanctions for non-compliance. Every new mandate holder must undergo mandatory training on ethics and governance, guided by an experienced mentor. The party also caps paid public mandates at three and, in municipalities over 50,000 inhabitants, confirms a strict ban on combining a parliamentary seat with a mayor or alderman role.

If you are a socialist, you have the duty to be absolutely exemplary.

Magnette stressed that scandals on the right barely shock the public, but when they touch the left, "it hurts like hell." The statutes state that anyone accepting a political mandate for the PS must adhere to ethical standards stricter than common law to protect the party's reputation and credibility.

Gender parity at all levels

Parity is now written into every layer of the party. List leaders must alternate gender: if a province puts forward a female list leader, the first substitute must be male, and vice versa. When multiple elections fall on the same day, a province cannot have two list leaders of the same sex. The rule extends to cabinet chiefs, regional officials, and ministerial selections.

Is it far-reaching to write that in the statutes? I don't think so. If it's written in the constitution of our party, no one can use excuses to appoint a man again.

Morreale, a former minister and faction leader in the Walloon Parliament, argued that enshrining the rule prevents backsliding.

Zero tolerance on sexual violence

The party is creating a dedicated listening cell, a national referent, and specific sanctions for sexist and sexual violence. Until now, only a vigilance committee existed. The reform aims to ensure that victims within the PS have a clear reporting path and that impunity is not tolerated.

Opening up to citizens

To bridge the gap with civil society, the PS will hold an annual national citizen panel, half of whose members will be non-affiliated. The goal is to continuously involve citizens and associations in shaping political priorities. A new fourth department, the School of Militancy and Engagement (EMILE), will offer training and courses to both party members and the public.

A work in progress

The congress adopted all statutes except the first two, which define the party's name and its reference to class struggle. Those will be rewritten by early 2027. Some insiders called the exercise cosmetic. "The congress on Sunday, it must be admitted, is a bit cosmetic," one cadre told Le Soir. A deputy-mayor added that it would have been more coherent to do everything at once. The refoundation process, launched a year ago after the June 2024 electoral defeat, continues with the elaboration of a political project and a "reconquest of citizens."