Vooruit retains its faith in the federal Vivald coalition, “as long as it can continue to make agreements”. That is what the chairman of the Flemish socialists, Conner Rousseau, said on VTM NEWS on Sunday. He repeated that an agreement on a tax reform must be reached, but that it is “more sensible” to find an agreement on a smaller package than the 6 billion euros that Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem has put on the table.
With the saga surrounding the Iranian visa and Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, the federal government has once again had a turbulent period. Negotiations on a tax reform will continue this weekend, with bilateral consultations in the first place on Sunday, but MR chairman Georges-Louis Bouchez has already made it clear that, as far as he is concerned, there will be no increase in the securities tax. Bouchez is also the party chairman of Lahbib.
“It is not always easy to work with the MR, I have said that before,” said Vooruit chairman Rousseau on Sunday. “But it should also work now. We will continue to believe in this government, as long as it can continue to make agreements.” So there must be an agreement on a tax reform? “What else have they been doing all these months?” said Rousseau.
The Vooruit chairman again said that a broad agreement on a reform of 6 billion euros is not realistic. Rousseau considers Minister Van Peteghem’s proposal to allow workers to save at least 835 euros net per year. “If you can’t live up to that, it won’t do you any good to believe in politics.” Earlier this week he suggested an agreement on a package of 2 billion euros.
Fee supplements agreed
Rousseau confirms that the federal government can still decide with the agreement on the ban on fee supplements for scans during working hours or in urgent cases, on the proposal of Vooruit minister Frank Vandenbroucke. “As long as we can do things that are good for people’s health and purchasing power, we will continue to support this government. But if there comes a point where this government can no longer get anything done, then you have to go to the voters,” said Rousseau.
However, he did not want to go into detail on that last point. “Early elections are not good for the people. They don’t like to vote either,” Rousseau said. “Let us first ensure that agreements are reached.”
Prosecutor’s suit
Rousseau is clear about the new charges recently filed against him. “It is up to the public prosecutor’s office to see if there is anything wrong with it. I’m standing on my own feet,” he said firmly. To this day, he has still not been heard in the investigation.
“Anyone in this country can file a complaint against anyone. Then it is up to the public prosecutor to determine whether it is correct,” said the Vooruit leader. “There has been a lot of pressure on me in the last few months – that is not always easy to deal with. But I’m not going to let that put me off. A witch hunt has started, so to speak, with the craziest stories first.”
“I especially want to focus on the important challenges that this country still has. I think I can add value to finding solutions in this country. I hope to get the space back and that the media will also handle this correctly, sometimes leave me a little calm, and above all let me do my job.”
The socialist was also present at Rock Werchter yesterday. “I don’t know why I should hide. I enjoyed it,” he said. “I am also just a 30-year-old guy who likes to have fun every now and then.”
LOOK. Conner Rousseau at VTM NEWS: “I don’t know why I have to hide”
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