Pierre-Yves Jeholet's political relaunch looks set to be a pivotal moment. Guest on the podcast Dans le bureau de..., published by Trends-Tendances, the Walloon Minister-President wanted to clarify his vision: no sudden “revolution”, but a deliberate will to break with stagnation and defeatism.
In his office, filled with personal mementoes, Jeholet stresses a central point: the era when “Wallonia could always count on someone else to pay the bill” is over. In his view, the Region must become self-reliant, innovate and fully mobilise its strengths to generate activity and lasting employment.
The Minister highlights the transformations under way: streamlining public structures, redirecting support towards market employment, and the will to focus on strategic sectors such as healthcare, energy, agri-food and defence. For Jeholet, every euro invested must become a genuine lever to fuel the economy and strengthen Walloon competitiveness. These reforms are not without resistance, as the budget comes under pressure and some accuse him of lacking industrial vision.
He responds by stating that the aim is to turn research and innovation into tangible benefits for businesses and workers here, not elsewhere. His guiding principle rests on a threefold responsibility: political, administrative and civic.
Solidarity, he reminds us, cannot be one-sided; it involves rights but also duties. While acknowledging the need for difficult choices, he stresses the importance of keeping human contact and supporting the most vulnerable people.
Beyond the ideological debates or provocations typical of political relaunches, Pierre-Yves Jeholet claims a pragmatic approach, built through dialogue with businesses and geared towards the field. “Wallonia is no longer a Mister Cash”, he repeats, as a course he intends to maintain, far from empty slogans but with the determination to forge a lasting dynamic.