On 20 October, our President Georges-Louis Bouchez debated with Thomas Dermine, Mayor of Charleroi, at UMons, at the invitation of the Cercle des étudiants libéraux. Before more than 500 people, he defended our course: rewarding work, reforming public structures and giving young people the means to build their future. Faced with socialist criticism, he responded substantively, with one requirement: responsibility.
Rewarding work, without sowing confusion
While Thomas Dermine sought to downplay the Job Bonus by dividing its budget among all working people in Wallonia, Georges-Louis Bouchez reminded everyone of its purpose: supporting low and middle incomes.
“We wanted to reserve the Job Bonus for low and middle incomes,” he explained, citing the monthly gross ceiling of €5,000, specifically designed to prevent high earners from benefiting from it.
Our President also clarified the MR's election pledge: “The Mouvement Réformateur's promise was to create a gap of at least €500 between those who work and those who don't.” The regional bonus complements this ambition, it does not replace it.
“Money for reform”
On city finances, Georges-Louis Bouchez rejected the logic of refinancing without any change to the political structures of our region and the State: “If you give money now and change nothing in terms of public structures, then in five years you'll be back at the same level of debt.”
The principle defended by the MR can be summed up in three words: “Money for reform.” After Thomas Dermine's conditional openness to reforming the provinces, our President took him at his word: “We preserve services and jobs. We simply remove the political layer.” A clear answer to those who too often confuse defending public services with defending existing structures.
Telling the young people present the truth
Facing the risk of European decline, Georges-Louis Bouchez defended a scientific and technological ambition: “Study whatever you want, but know that your country needs you in STEM, in technology.”
His message to the students was not one of resignation, but of action. Despite international constraints, he reiterated his view of political engagement: “I'm not paid to cry.” A phrase that sums up the difference our President defended throughout the debate: not merely explaining difficulties, but taking the decisions needed to overcome them.