Faimes, a friendly municipality in the Liège Hesbaye region, cultivates a rural spirit with a strong network of associations. The new local majority has appointed Laurence Marneffe as President of the CPAS, a pivotal role for social support, welfare policy and close ties with residents.
An interview with an elected representative preparing to face the challenges of an ambitious employment reform.
Laurence, few people know you yet in your new role. Can you introduce yourself briefly, explain your personal and professional background, and tell us how you came to take on the presidency of the CPAS?
I am 34 years old, hold a law degree and have lived in Faimes for just under 3 years. I was asked to stand on the EDF (Equipe de Faimes) list in the October 2024 municipal elections. As second-to-last on the list, I had the pleasant surprise of achieving the 5th best score, allowing me to join the College as President of the CPAS. I am, incidentally, the youngest member of the municipal College.
Previously, I was a CPAS councillor in Esneux-Tilff and President of the MR Youth of Hannut.
Since 2025, I have also served on the Steering Committee of the Federation of Walloon CPAS.
Professionally, I work as a parliamentary assistant to Caroline Cassart. First at the federal Parliament, then at the Parliament of Wallonia. An enriching experience that gives me an overview of the policies pursued at different levels of government.
What priorities do you want to implement very quickly, and what major challenges will you have to overcome to achieve them?
The CPAS of Faimes is a small rural CPAS (4,200 residents) with around twenty beneficiaries of the integration income. That may sound modest to some! But beyond the right to social integration, we have developed services for the whole population (not just for vulnerable people) to combat isolation and loneliness. The CPAS of Faimes runs a second-hand shop, a service-voucher service, an ironing service, a socio-professional integration project through market gardening (“Les Jardins du Chevalier”), a mobi-service (social taxi), a community space and Cré-actif workshops. A diverse programme that lets us reach the population and strengthen social ties within the municipality.
The major employment reform wanted by the Walloon government and the federal government is likely to have an impact on CPAS. How do you see this?
Of course this will impact CPAS from 2026 onwards, but it's high time these reforms were carried out. We need to restore the dignity of work, reward it better, and create a real difference between those who get up early to work and those who take advantage of the system. The major challenge for CPAS will be to support the people concerned in order to ultimately put them back on the path to employment, particularly through the article 60 mechanism.
The idea is therefore not simply to transfer the unemployed to CPAS, but to put in place a proactive policy to encourage them. I often say: the CPAS is a wonderful institution for dealing with life's setbacks, but it must never become a career plan.
You co-chair, together with David Weytsman, a think tank and action group on CPAS within the MR. What is it and what is the goal of this group?
As mentioned earlier, CPAS will face major challenges and play a central role in implementing the employment reform. This action and reflection group is aimed at all MR CPAS presidents and social action councillors. The goal is to identify the difficulties encountered, share experiences from the field, and think together about concrete solutions. A first meeting was held this Tuesday, and others will follow, including one on 18 November at 6:30pm.
David Weytsman, President of the CPAS of the City of Brussels, represents the Brussels CPAS and, more broadly, the large CPAS. With my Walloon background, I represent the more rural CPAS. It's a good balance to take everyone's realities into account.