Last night, our President Georges-Louis Bouchez took part in a debate organised by the Kot Citoyen in Louvain-la-Neuve, alongside the other party leaders. Three major themes were discussed in front of more than 700 students: socio-economic issues, healthcare and the environment.
On the socio-economic side, he pointed out that more than 200 reforms will be carried out on employment alone. With more than 600,000 long-term sick people, it is essential to put work back at the centre of reforms. Indeed, many genuinely sick people need even better support than they currently receive, but we cannot ignore that others abuse the system. The MR wants to protect those who need it, while tackling the abuses that burden our social model and discourage those who work.
On healthcare, he stressed that the state is investing more than €2 billion extra, but that the efficiency of this spending must be improved. The MR refuses to throw wheelbarrows of money at every problem: more resources does not necessarily mean more results. We are the country that spends the most on public services, yet quality and efficiency fall short. Georges-Louis Bouchez also refuted the idea that investment in Defence would come at the expense of social security. He recalled an essential truth: without security, there is no wellbeing, no prosperity and no social justice!
Finally, on the environmental question, he defended the MR's strategic vision on energy. Strengthening nuclear power is essential to ensure clean, affordable energy and guarantee our strategic autonomy in the face of geopolitical crises.
The debate concluded with a question-and-answer session, followed by an informal exchange with the students. Once again, this exchange demonstrated the growing interest in our country's future and confirmed the popularity of the liberal project championed by the MR.