This week we meet Guillaume Soupart in Mons.
Municipal councillor, national Vice-President of the Jeunes MR, parliamentary assistant to Jacqueline Galant, he tells us about his political commitment as a young elected representative in the Doudou city.
Guillaume, you're a municipal councillor in the city of Mons, how do you see this role?
A mandate as a municipal councillor is incredibly varied. As part of the opposition in Mons, alongside Georges-Louis, we give it our all. We propose solutions to the everyday problems faced by the people of Mons. We're present on the ground, at festivities, at citizen meetings, going door to door. What's certain is that the best part of being a municipal councillor is being able to marry couples. It's an extremely special moment in a couple's life. There's also the Doudou period, during which I always remind myself how proud I am to represent this magnificent city.
You were recently elected Vice-President of the Jeunes MR and President of the Jeunes MR of Mons-Borinage. What challenges lie ahead for you?
Representing a liberal youth movement in a “red territory” like the Mons district is a challenge! We're giving it our all to show that another, more emancipatory path is possible, so that our region can recover and the 250,000 residents of Mons-Bo can regain their pride. Within the Jeunes MR, we must continue our groundwork by proposing innovative yet always reform-minded ideas. The goal is also to get as many young people as possible on the lists and to help them develop their own skills to the fullest.
Soon several young people will be standing on the various lists. What advice would you give to those wanting to get into politics?
The main piece of advice is: don't be afraid. You have to go for it. You have to give everything. Don't forget that the vast majority of people are friendly and want to make a thoughtful decision about their vote. In 2018, I was 39th out of 45, let's just say that wasn't a great position. But with a lot of hard work, determination and door-to-door canvassing, I managed to get elected. We need motivated young people because our voice needs to be heard. Different generations don't experience difficulties in the same way, and we need to work collegially to build our shared life together. If you're young and have questions, never hesitate to contact me and we'll talk about it!
You know the drill, we always finish with a little tourism question: is there a place in Mons you'd recommend?
I'd recommend the Rodin exhibition, which will be on show at the fine arts museum in April, and a visit to one of the restaurants in the city centre (there are so many good ones that I can't name just one).