“Zonder ons was er al een begrotingsakkoord geweest, eentje vol belastingen,” said Georges-Louis Bouchez, during his annual Grand Dîner du Bouchez at the Palais des Congrès in Mons.
De Standaard reported that the political figure addressed roughly 700 attendees on November 14, 2026, marking two decades of his career in politics and his recent fortieth birthday. While David Clarinval remained in Brussels to negotiate the federal budget, Bouchez used the party gathering to outline his stance on fiscal policy and economic growth.
“We have sometimes the privilege, but also the difficulty of standing alone with our ideas, certainly federally,” Bouchez told the crowd. “Everyone in this country always has a lot of ideas when it comes to raising taxes, while we are the only party that underlines how essential it is to have economic growth. Only then can our prosperity and our well-being grow.”
Één partij stelt haar veto. De partij die 8,11% van de stemmen haalde bij de laatste verkiezingen. https://t.co/lTrxOcy1P2 pic.twitter.com/IXiZnCCyRv
Supporters at the event voiced strong backing for the political figure. Ali Datoussaid, an attendee from Uccle, noted that Bouchez frequently fights alone in politics. Fredy Manil from La Louvière, who attended the start of Bouchez’s career, described him as a genuine statesman who avoids telling people what they want to hear.
During the evening, Bouchez reflected on his two decades in public office and the specific reforms that keep him motivated. He pointed to the return of nuclear energy and the removal of unlimited unemployment benefits as key changes achieved so far. He noted that he has no intention of remaining in politics indefinitely simply for the sake of it.
Premier De Wever (N-VA) is zélf eindverantwoordelijk voor de falende begrotingsonderhandelingen, ongeacht de rol van zijn coalitiepartners. Er zijn dan wel zeven partijen, maar uiteindelijk heeft de kiezer slechts twee keuzes: meer van hetzelfde met de systeempartijen of… pic.twitter.com/s57Sh3kH2X
“A budget formulation is not necessarily the most pleasant moment for a politician,” Bouchez said.
“Но the realization is, objectively, that there is an immense difference between a budget with the MR or without. That there is no VAT increase is thanks to us. That the budget is not going to touch economic activity either. It is evident that without us there would already have been an agreement, but one full of taxes and with measures against those who work or undertake.”
Looking ahead, Bouchez expressed absolute confidence that the MR will win the elections in 2029. When questioned about his views on the monarchy given his republican leanings, he clarified his position regarding the state structure.
“In Belgium, with our state structure, you need a monarchy,” Bouchez said. “But a political system where the voter directly chooses his president or prime minister, that is what I am a republican in. Always have been.”
Blij dat nog eens iemand naar het OESO rapport heeft gekeken. Want zelfs als een begrotingsakkoord komt dan zijn we nog lang niet thuis. Daarom dat huidige politieke impasse zo intriest is: er ligt eigenlijk nauwelijks iets substantieel op tafel. https://t.co/Sp7JvovnFz
Kan een feestdag inleveren de begroting redden? https://t.co/Tkzx5HYCxN Wat ook kan helpen: opvoeren van de strijd tegen fiscale fraude voor 2 miljard in de begroting inschrijven. Levert misschien niets op maar de intentie staat goed en kost niks.
