After days of intensive consultations, Georges-Louis Bouchez and Maxime Prévot have wrapped up a series of meetings that marked a crucial step in forming the future Walloon government.
Nearly 250 stakeholders from various sectors were heard, voicing their concerns, aspirations and, above all, their recommendations for the future of Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
This process, unprecedented in scale for the formation of a regional government, made it possible to gather the views of numerous stakeholders. From farmers concerned about the future of family farming to environmental activists and defenders of social rights, each group was able to voice its priorities in the face of current and future challenges.
Testimonies on agriculture, the environment and social issues broadcast on RTL info's 7pm news: “I think both negotiators really listened”, “We feel we've been heard”, “Yes, there was listening”.
As Georges-Louis Bouchez pointed out, it is not just about reassurance, but also about aligning policy directions with citizens' realities and expectations. This could well transform the way politics is done in Wallonia, by more directly integrating grassroots voices into policy-making.