Emir Kir

Emir Kir is a Belgian politician who has served as the Mayor of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode since 2012. Born in Charleroi to Turkish immigrant parents, he began his political career in the Socialist Party (PS), eventually serving as a Secretary of State in the Brussels government and a minister in the French Community Commission. Kir made history as the first mayor of Turkish origin in the French-speaking part of Belgium. Following his expulsion from the Socialist Party in 2020 due to controversial political contacts, he has continued to serve as an independent mayor, winning re-election in 2024.