The debate between Georges-Louis Bouchez, MR President, and Paul Magnette, PS President, on LN24 offered a clear 1.5-hour debate between two positions. More than a simple exchange, this debate highlighted two opposing visions for the future of Belgium: that of a left wing that refuses to reform and that of the MR, which takes on responsibility, truth and action.
Freedom and responsibility
Our President reaffirmed a clear line: for the MR, the priority is to guarantee everyone the freedom to build their own path. This means equal opportunities, but certainly not a state that decides on behalf of citizens. The PS, by contrast, continues to defend a logic of dependency, maintaining the illusion that everything can be funded without any contribution in return. For the MR, helping people is essential, but everyone must also do their part. This demand for responsibility lies at the heart of our vision for society.
Putting work first
The divide is particularly stark on the issue of work. For the MR, it is obvious that working should always pay more than being inactive. That is the whole point of tax-exempt overtime and the expansion of flexi-jobs, which allow those who wish to increase their income. Our President reminded us: with 170,000 unfilled jobs in our country, the problem is not a lack of opportunities, but a lack of incentives and the blockages inherited from decades of ineffective policies. Preventing those who want to work more from doing so is incomprehensible and counterproductive.
Reforming to protect the future
Finally, Georges-Louis Bouchez delivered a message of truth: refusing reforms today means condemning future generations to pay the bill. On pensions, public finances, education and security, the MR chooses reform. Adapting our model to demographic and economic reality is not an ideological choice, it is a necessity. Where the PS prefers to deny problems or put them off, the MR acts to avoid far harsher measures tomorrow.
This debate confirmed it: for the MR, governing means making choices, telling the truth and taking concrete action to set the country back on track.
Watch the debate again