This week we stop in the province of Luxembourg, more precisely in Bastogne, to introduce you to Jessica Mayon.
As a municipal and provincial councillor, Jessica handles sports matters at the cabinet of Minister-President Pierre-Yves Jeholet. She is also a federal candidate on Benoit Piedboeuf's list.
Jessica, you are a municipal councillor in Bastogne. How do you experience this?
I was lucky to have parents who advised me to take an interest in my future, and I discovered a real passion for my municipality.
The municipal mandate allows you to be very close to the reality experienced by our fellow citizens, to listen to them every day. There's nothing quite like devoting some of your time to getting your municipality moving!
If I had one message for those who are hesitating, it would be above all to take the plunge. Especially young people, because when you get involved in your municipality, you take charge of your own future.
Bastogne caused quite a stir with its merger with Bertogne: how did it go, and what's your opinion on the matter?
I fought to try to ensure the democratic process was respected and to bring more transparency. We must be aware that the current decree still does not serve the interests of the population. It needs to be corrected, particularly to better involve citizens. Citizens should not be caught by surprise, as happened in Bastogne and Bertogne.
Now we need to move forward, there's no point dwelling on the past. What matters and must guide us is the future.
You're also a provincial councillor, so: the provinces, stop or continue?
Continue. It's time for the MR to regain the majority in the Province of Luxembourg, because there are so many challenges to tackle. If I had to name just one, it would be health.
You are a candidate in the federal elections: how do you see this additional commitment?
It's a way of supporting my party and defending our values (freedom, work, humanism), as well as supporting my list leader Benoît Piedboeuf.
But I'm also using this campaign to talk about an issue that's particularly close to my heart: mobility. In rural areas, people often feel neglected, misunderstood, and without a sufficient offer of reliable, quality public transport. It's time for that to change.
Finally, the usual tourism question: what do you recommend visiting in Bastogne?
Bastogne isn't just about the Battle of the Bulge. The carnival, with its iconic group “les PIches Cacayes”, is well worth discovering. But the Bastogne region is also a real green lung, with exceptional walking and cycling routes that let you discover the Ardennes landscapes.
A great concept was developed by the Maison du Tourisme: the backpack ramble. The idea is to set off on a walk in the heart of the Bastogne region with all the equipment needed for a picnic break to discover local produce: Ardennes ham and sausage, cheese, local beer. And since the shops are open on Sundays, Bastogne is truly a municipality worth discovering.