It is in Wavre that we meet Qassem Fosseprez, a young municipal councillor and rising figure within the Mouvement Réformateur. At just 27, Qassem embodies this new liberal generation determined to shift the balance, even from the opposition benches. With a remarkable personal score in the last elections and daily commitment alongside President Georges-Louis Bouchez, he shares with us his journey, his priorities for Wavre and his passion for political work.
As a young municipal councillor in Wavre, what challenges and opportunities have you encountered since taking office?
Running in the municipal elections was not something I thought about every day. As the October elections approached, I thought about it at length and discussed it with those close to me. Active in my town and fully immersed in the party's political life, I told myself I had to take my chance because I had, and still have, ideas to defend.
The MR remained in power in Wavre for almost 50 years. We left behind a prosperous town, with a very high employment rate and full of opportunities. We certainly have nothing to be ashamed of regarding our track record.
Ranked 24th out of 33, I achieved the 7th best score on the list, so I now sit alongside my 11 other colleagues on the municipal council. On the evening of 13 October, we lost 4 seats, which was quite a blow for the previous team. For my part, my emotions were rather mixed: the joy of being elected with a more than satisfying personal score, while seeing some friends not get elected and the liberal group lose a few more feathers.
So it is in this context that I will draw all my energy: learning at 26 that nothing is guaranteed, and having the opportunity to prove myself, by simply being present, as an opposition councillor. I would say that is the challenge: to show all the liberals of Wavre, Limal and Bierges, and a majority of Wavre residents who were still voting for us just a few years ago, that a new political generation is coming, that it is motivated, that it acts with modern methods and that it has a vision rooted in its town! It is a real challenge! The MR, in Wavre and alongside our lead candidate Gilles Agosti, is far from dead! We are already preparing for victory in 2030!
The MR currently finds itself in opposition in Wavre. What priorities are you championing to bring a different dynamic to the town?
My parents run a restaurant in Wavre, the “Bar à pizza”, since 2017. My sister works there and my brother studies nearby. I drew my priorities from their experiences: making access for vehicles easier and providing more parking spaces, a more pleasant, cleaner town centre free of crime, and maintaining one of the lowest tax rates in Wallonia.
On the municipal council, I speak up on many topics; I don't want to limit myself to just one or two issues. Anything I hear from those close to me or from residents that adds value to the local debate is another opportunity to represent the people who voted for me, and I'm proud of that!
For those who don't yet know Wavre well, what are your favourite spots or activities to discover in the town?
You should know that Wavre is beautifully located, right in the heart of Walloon Brabant, 20 minutes from Brussels and 10 from Flanders! Everyone has already been to Wavre at least once for... Walibi, of course! What I particularly like is going running in the Beumont woods, up on the heights. It's a chance to enjoy some calm and discover old wartime bunkers, still standing. On Saturdays, I also love wandering through one of the biggest markets in Walloon Brabant, the one in the centre of Wavre: you can find everything there! The market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, well worth a visit! And in summer, or whenever the weather is nice, there's nothing better than strolling through the centre, especially along Rue Charles Sambon, having a little cocktail on a terrace and stopping by THE best restaurant in Wavre, the Bar à pizza 😊!
How do you see your role within the Mouvement Réformateur and alongside Georges-Louis Bouchez, and what does it mean to you to work with him on a daily basis?
My political drive also comes from working alongside Georges-Louis. I've been by his side for 5 years, and I can tell you his methods are worth more than any communication or political strategy course in Belgium.
It's a great opportunity to be the spokesperson for our party and its President. I could count on Georges-Louis's help and presence during my municipal campaign in Wavre, and I'm still grateful to him for that. 5 years at party headquarters gives you a wealth of tools, ideas and actions for your town. What I've learnt at the MR, what I do every day for the MR, I also bring to Wavre. We're modernising communication, delivering clear messages and, whenever we can, getting out on the ground to talk to people! It's my job and I love it!