Saint-Gilles, Forest & Uccle
Saint-Gilles, Forest and Uccle are vibrant municipalities in the south of Brussels. The pleasant parks, the melting pot of cultures, the rich cultural offerings and the cosy neighbourhoods make our municipalities lovely places to live. However, there are still many challenges.
The local branches of Vooruit Sint-Gillis, Vorst & Ukkel are joining forces. With a warm heart for people, we are committed to affordable housing, vibrant public spaces, clean and safe streets, and a strong social fabric.
We want everyone to have access to quality services, public spaces and public transport. We support local traders, invest in youth and culture and give the elderly the place they deserve in our community.
We are committed to redeveloping the old prison sites into a new neighbourhood with space for living, culture, and social interaction. And we want to finally turn the “no man's land surrounding” the South Station into a “place to go”.
Meet our people, join us and help to make our communities even more pleasant, humane, fair and social.
Willem Stevens
Willem has lived in Brussels for over 25 years. In short, his home is in the Brussels mosaic. In 2000, Willem became a municipal councillor in Saint-Gilles. Ten years later, he became an alderman. He has now been active in local politics for several terms. His focus is on improving the quality of living and life for all residents and providing space and opportunities for young people. He believes in the power of local politics, where you are close to people and achieve tangible results.
Lesia Radelicki
Lesia Radelicki has lived in Saint-Gilles for 20 years. She has been politically active since 2016. She first served on the Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) council and then on the municipal council. In 2023, she also became president of the municipal council. She is the vice-chairwoman of the progressive women's movement ZIJkant and works at a European level as a policy officer on equal opportunities, women's rights and anti-discrimination. As a municipal councillor, Lesia will focus on safety, sustainable and affordable housing, cleanliness, youth policy and equal opportunities.
Nathalie Vanvelthoven
Originally from Limburg, but having called Saint-Gilles home for years, Nathalie Vanvelthoven dedicates herself wholeheartedly to her neighbourhood. From a young age, she was active as a volunteer, and she carries that commitment with her today in her role as a CPAS councillor.
She wants to be there for everyone who needs support, with particular attention to affordable housing, accessible care, and fair opportunities. With her experience as an advisor in the Brussels and European Parliaments, and with solidarity as a key driving force, Nathalie aims to continue building a warm and social Saint-Gilles, where life is good and no one is left by the wayside.
Hilde Peeters
Hilde has been living in the Albert neighbourhood of Forest since 2021 and has a passion for connecting people with art and culture, both in her work and in her free time. Today, she works as an advisor for culture, youth, and sport in the office of State Secretary and VGC College Member Ans Persoons. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Ten Weyngaert Community Centre. As the mother of a young daughter, her heart lies with the well-being of children and young people. A place in nursery, homework support, a playground in the local area, and a sports club or youth centre where teenagers can let off steam are essential to her. She dreams of a social and inclusive community where everyone is given opportunities to grow and develop. As a CPAS council member in Forest, she is continuing her local commitment and working towards a warm and just society.
Claudio Sartorelli
Claudio has been a proud Brussels resident for 18 years. Originally from Italy, he feels completely at home in Saint-Gilles, where he is the deputy chairman of the local branch. In his daily life, Claudio works as a business analyst at a bank.
He is actively involved in strengthening the participation of EU citizens in local political life. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, he is also strongly committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion. Claudio believes in a society where everyone feels welcome and heard, and he passionately and conscientiously works to help realise that ideal in Saint-Gilles.
Els Rochette
Vorst is a wonderful municipality where I have lived with great pleasure for 29 years. My three children grew up there, with Chiro H2O and basketball club Black Devils as fixed points in their youth. Such organisations deserve all the support from our municipality. As a former chairman of the first municipal Culture Council, I still have a warm heart for Vorst's cultural life. Sport also remains important to me: as a loyal Union supporter, I can often be found at the Marienstadion. I am involved in the campaign for a new stadium for our club and a worthy future for the listed stadium in Dudenpark. Professionally, I was director of Globe Aroma for 15 years, an arts centre for refugees and newcomers. Afterwards, I served for five years in the Brussels Parliament, where I championed the fight against poverty and homelessness, for a safe city, and for equal rights for everyone. These are also major challenges for our municipality of Vorst today.