Sun, 8 November 2009
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In October, non-EU expats will be able to vote for the first time in Belgium's local elections, but are you warming to the idea - and how do you go about registering?In October, thousands of non-EU residents in Belgium will get the chance to do something many of the country's expats already take for granted — vote in local elections.
Since 2000, EU citizens have been able to vote in municipal and European elections wherever they are living in the EU.
Although the idea caused deep political divisions, Belgium joined most of the former EU 15 nations in extending this right to all residents two years ago.
It means non-European immigrants can vote for the first time in the Belgian local elections on 8 October.
Who can vote?
The Belgian Interior Ministry says nearly one in 10 Belgian residents is of foreign origin and the measure will enfranchise 118,000 non-EU residents over the age of 18.
Among them is Amena Diab, one of an estimated 81,000 Moroccans living in Belgium, the biggest group of non-EU residents.
Amena, 45, who works at a nursery school, has lived in Brussels for 20 years and believes it is only fair she gets the chance to decide who runs her commune.
"When you have been paying taxes and living and taking part in community life for as long as I have, why should I not enjoy the same voting rights as everyone else?" the mother-of-two asks.
Romanian Lucica Eugene, a 25-year-old teacher in Brussels, says: "I would like to vote, but currently do not really feel that I know enough about the local political scene to do so. I will have to familiarise myself with it all".
Mohammed Malik, a 34-year-old Turk, who works as a caterer at the European Parliament, says: "I'd heard about this new law and it is to be welcomed. I am really looking forward to voting and will probably vote for the Socialist candidate because his party was most enthusiastic about giving us the right to vote".
This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes how to write a CV, application procedure, interview dos and don'ts, Belgian management culture.
Belgium’s first alternative directory assistance services - available through the shortcode 14-14 - can now be accessed on the internet.
Moving to Belgium presents a host of challenges to expats, not least of all finding the right home.
The psychological effects of global mobility can be physically painful.
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