During his May 1 speech in Leuven, Vooruit chairman Conner Rousseau once again argued for reducing the burden on work. “Isn’t there money for that, as I’ve been hearing for years? A large part of the fortune of the richest person in the world (businessman Bernard Arnault; Ed.) is in Belgium. He did not bring his money here from France because he is crazy about Niels Destadsbader, but because he sees Belgium as a fiscal paradise.”
Rousseau quickly criticized the Flemish government (with N-VA, CD&V and Open Vld; edit) in his speech. “If two words fit the Flanders of the last 10 years, it is standing still and going backwards. Many parents fear that their children will not be as well off as they are. Young people fear for their pension, the climate and their prosperity. Is it because there are no solutions? Or is that because politics doesn’t work today and is too busy with itself?”
“Always arguing: Flanders against Belgium. Flanders against Brussels. Brussels against Flanders. Employers against employees. Everyone just defends the interests of their own club, but who still defends the general interest? We don’t participate in all that bullshit. If we do not want to end up in an extreme right-wing horror film, then politicians must show that they can still solve problems.”
“Work must pay more”
Rousseau is very concerned about the quality of education. “In the first place, we must focus on a better knowledge of Dutch. We need to invest more in the first years of the child in nursery and primary education, so that the classes become smaller and a kindergarten teacher has time to teach again.”
Working should also pay more, believes the Vooruit chairman. “The wage standard law as it is today must go. We don’t just want people’s wages to rise, we also want people to have more of that wage left over, which means that the costs at work fall.”
LOOK. Rousseau gives his own federal government 5 out of 10
“I always hear people say that there is no money for that, but is that the case? The richest person in the world does not live in Switzerland, not in Monaco and not in the Bahamas, but in Belgium. A large part of his fortune is here, in Belgian companies on Avenue Louise in Brussels. He did not bring his money here because he is crazy about Niels Destadsbader, but because he sees Belgium as a fiscal paradise.”
According to Rousseau, there should be an asset register, “even if a millionaire’s daughter does not want it.” With that he again made a reference to Secretary of State Alexia Bertrand (Open VLD). “If everyone pays their taxes fairly, taxes can be lowered for everyone. And that starts with knowing where the money is. Only then can we collect taxes correctly. Only then can we allocate social benefits fairly.”
Base job
In addition, his latest showpiece was also discussed: every jobseeker should accept a basic job after two years of unemployment. “All reactions to this proposal were predictable, but they will not stop us.”
The criticism came, among others, from the PS, and now the socialist trade union is joining it. “The unemployed deserve respect. Proposals that fit into an atmosphere in which they are dismissed as freeloaders can count on a trade union response,” said General Secretary Miranda Ulens.
LOOK. De Croo (Open VLD) responds to basic job: “The unemployed must take work, otherwise they will stop receiving benefits”
“Dutch from Bouchez is not good”
Rousseau did receive support from Vlaams Belang and MR. “Vooruit is increasingly on our side from a socio-economic point of view,” said Georges-Louis Bouchez this morning. “But Bouchez’s Dutch is not that good,” Rousseau responded. “He didn’t get it right. With us, the emphasis is not on the end of the process (possible suspension of benefits; editor’s note), but on the guidance before that. We want to help people, protect them against unemployment and poverty.”
Applause for “Deborahs of this world”
Solidaris chairman Paul Callewaert assisted the Vooruit chairman. “We think the basic jobs are a good proposal,” it sounded. “As long as it is geared to the business cycle. If the economy slows down a bit and unemployment rises again, then less will have to be pushed on the gas.”
Finally, Rousseau called for a big round of applause “for the Deborahs of this world”. “Employees of Delhaize live in great uncertainty because they do not know what will happen to them. At the top of Delhaize I have another message: I understand that you want to ensure the future of your company, but please also ensure the future of your own people?”
Read also: Vooruit party leader Melissa Depraetere and her parents: “I was ashamed of my salary for a long time. They have worked themselves up for much less” (+)
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