The conference organised in Nivelles by the Cercle du Lion drew a packed room of entrepreneurs eager for concrete results. Before them, our President Georges-Louis Bouchez delivered a clear message, alongside his majority partner and Les Engagés counterpart, Yvan Verougstraete. Frédéric Panier, CEO of AKT Wallonie, and Jean Hilgers, Chairman of the Board of Wallonie Entreprendre, also sat on the panel: Wallonia is changing course, but reforms must be accelerated to meet pressing economic needs.
When asked about the slow pace of certain measures, our President did not shy away from the debate. He bluntly pointed to the administrative red tape that slows down government action and prevents faster progress. For the MR, it is time to thoroughly modernise how the state functions, so that decisions can be made more quickly and effectively.
Before an audience of entrepreneurs largely won over to reform, our President defended a consistent line: reviving growth, supporting employment and removing obstacles. In a region facing labour shortages, it is essential to create an environment that values work and encourages economic activity. The MR fully stands behind measures such as flexi-jobs and greater labour market flexibility to meet businesses' needs.
Despite some differences of nuance with Les Engagés over the pace of reform, the essential point stands: a shared will to turn Wallonia around. But while others urge caution, our President calls for action. Because the urgency is real.