On 9 April, Georges-Louis Bouchez was a guest on Bonsoir Le Débat on LN24. True to his style, the MR President sounded the alarm: it is more than time to put an end to ideological posturing, endless talk and never-ending task forces. Faced with industrial, economic and social challenges, only decisive and pragmatic political action will allow Belgium and Europe to stay standing!
Referring to the closure of the Audi plant in Forest, he denounced the irresponsibility of the European Union, which sought to force through the end of the combustion engine at breakneck speed, without taking industrial reality into account. While Europe was dreaming of a 100% electric world by 2030, Asia was calmly continuing to develop combustion engines. The result: our factories are closing, our skills are disappearing, and tomorrow it may be European carmakers themselves who have to source in Asia the engines they can no longer produce here.
This observation illustrates a broader problem: that of a Europe that has given the impression that, to be green, it had to tear everything down. Yet, as Georges-Louis Bouchez points out, being a political manager doesn't mean fleeing contradictions, it means owning them. We need both a strong industry and a clear commitment to sustainable development. One cannot go without the other. The MR has been saying it for a long time: ecological realism must take precedence over slogans. We must produce better, not less.
On social dialogue, the tone is just as frank. Georges-Louis Bouchez refuses to indulge in pretence. The positions are well known. We can no longer afford to go round in circles. The world is changing, economic realities are evolving, and it is urgent to adapt certain conditions or statutes that are no longer aligned with the needs of workers themselves. What workers are asking for today is the ability to work, to earn a decent living and to be independent, not to remain dependent for life on a system that traps them. The role of trade unions, if they truly want to represent workers, is to support this shift, not to oppose it for 30 years.
The MR President also pointed out that Belgium holds major cards to play in Europe's industrial redeployment. In nuclear power, an area where our expertise is now lacking in many of our neighbouring countries, but also in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and logistics and infrastructure, Wallonia and Belgium have a comparative advantage that few regions can claim. It would be a historic mistake not to seize it.
Finally, Georges-Louis Bouchez stressed the need to regain genuine strategic autonomy. Europe's dependence on Asia for electronic components or rare metals is a major weakness. It is time to invest, to produce at home, and to reconcile economic sovereignty with respect for the environment.
Fundamentally, the message is simple: it is no longer time for grand strategies that never materialise, nor for comfortable illusions. It is time for action, courage and pragmatism. And that is exactly what the MR stands for.