This week, Georges-Louis Bouchez was a guest of Unizo East Flanders. In Maarkedal, in the Flemish Ardennes, he spent an entire evening talking with SME business leaders from the province. A new stage in the tour of Flanders that the MR President began five years ago.
“We must save our industry, in Belgium and in Europe, in order to keep our destiny in our own hands. Small and medium-sized enterprises have everything to gain from this, because in our economy, large and small companies are closely linked,” said Bouchez. “Our competitiveness is declining. That’s why we are reducing the burden on businesses, which face not only high labour costs but also rising energy costs. In Wallonia, we will drastically shorten authorisation procedures: anyone who submits an application must receive a response within six months. Businesses must feel that they are welcome.”
On the budget discussions, he wanted to reassure entrepreneurs: “It is better to take a bit more time to reach a good agreement than to rush into a bad one. The Prime Minister can continue to count on the MR’s support, and the government will not fall. We continue to make proposals, with lower taxes, and we ask that the government agreement be respected. Our starting point always remains the same: reform and reduce public spending, not raise taxes. The MR, moreover, does not leak anything about the negotiations, because we want them to succeed.”
In June, GLB had already spoken at Unizo West Flanders, at the HippoLoggia in Waregem. On 2 September, he took part in Waregem Koerse in a duo race for charity and listened to everyone who spontaneously wanted to speak with him. A week later, in Kortrijk, he gave the opening speech of MATEXPO, a biennial trade fair for construction machinery and equipment. In early December, it will be Limburg’s turn.