It is in Chimay, in the Botte du Hainaut, that we meet our elected representative of the week: Tanguy Dardenne.
A municipal councillor in Chimay and freshly elected to the Walloon Parliament, let’s take stock of his challenges and projects.
Tanguy, you were recently elected as an MP to the Walloon Parliament. What are your priorities and upcoming challenges?
First of all, thank you for choosing me for this short interview.
When taking on a new role, I think it’s important to start with a learning period.
Observing, listening, asking for advice, understanding the codes: this phase doesn’t need to be very long, but it is essential if you want to do quality work.
Our President and his team managed, in just a few weeks, to negotiate an ambitious DPR and DPC for Wallonia and the Federation. My priority will be to help implement the reforms they contain in a pragmatic way.
I’m very pleased to see that administrative simplification is already at the heart of the debate.
As an entrepreneur, I have been developing and running SMEs for 20 years. Frankly, the administrative burden has become unbearable. All these “useless” tasks take us away from our real job and prevent us from developing our activities calmly. That’s true for entrepreneurs, but also for teachers, headteachers, farmers, self-employed people… basically almost everyone. We really need a simplification shock!
As a resident of Chimay, I will also be there to represent the Botte du Hainaut and the specific character of rural life.
You’re also a municipal councillor in Chimay, how do you see that role?
In Chimay, the majority has changed every 6 years since 1994. I have already been First Alderman, and I am currently a municipal councillor and leader of the opposition. Our role is to point out the shortcomings and, above all, to propose solutions that together form a coherent vision for the future. On 13 October, our goal is clearly to win back the majority in order to have an impact and change things. The name “Chimay” is known almost everywhere in the world, and we are here to make our region shine in keeping with that reputation.
The municipal elections are coming up soon. What advice would you give to candidates running for the first time?
- Know why! Political commitment stems from a desire to change things. We live in our municipality every day and notice things that could clearly be improved, services that could be better managed, or projects that could be developed. Sometimes it’s something small, sometimes more ambitious. The key is to keep that small voice deep inside reminding us why we do this… because the path of change is full of obstacles, and it takes a good dose of perseverance to shift established patterns.
- Have fun! Politics is a passion. A passion that takes up a lot of space, even a great deal, but which should always bring some form of enjoyment. So above all, young people: enjoy yourselves! You’ll meet lots of people, learn a great deal, and discover new qualities within yourselves that were dormant. A campaign is a great adventure! Live it fully, as a team, and you’ll only keep good memories of it!
- Get out into the field and listen! A candidate is above all someone who listens, who listens to learn, who listens to understand, who listens to show others that they matter. Voters need to feel that you will be there for them after 13 October. Be careful never to make a promise you cannot keep. But you must be available and ready to commit in the long term. I really like the little slogan: “I’m counting on you. You can count on me.”
Finally, if our readers felt like visiting Chimay, what would you recommend to them?
Book a gîte or a hotel room for a few days, ideally a week, to discover the region on foot or by bike. The Castle, the Grand-Place, the Espace Chimay, Lac de Virelles and the Aquascope, the 150 km of walking trails… there’s no shortage of activities in Chimay! I would also spend at least one night camping in Blaimont.
We also have fantastic restaurants and bistros, plus a whole series of events that bring the region to life throughout the year. Spending a weekend at the racing circuit, or at a local festival, is truly unforgettable.