The new MR-Les Engagés coalition in the French Community of Belgium (FWB) has pledged to introduce a series of reforms despite considerable concerns among fellow MPs.
On Friday, Wallonia-Brussels Federation Minister-President Elisabeth Degryse promised to implement these changes with "nuance" and "consultation" over the next five years.
Speaking at the Hotel de Ville in Brussels during the French Community celebration, Degryse emphasised her ambition to "build unity" while respecting everyone’s viewpoints.
"In collaboration with every sector, intermediary bodies, public services, media, and every institution we oversee, I will work to build an open, pluralistic, and more united community for our Federation Wallonia-Brussels, where everyone feels they belong," Degryse promised before an audience of over three hundred political and civil society representatives.
In office for almost three months, the new MR-:es Engagés majority has announced a series of reforms, particularly in education, media, and governance, which have raised significant concerns.
"We have five years to make the necessary changes for our Federation," Degryse emphasised.
She reiterated her government’s commitment to addressing the teacher shortage, changing the status of teachers, reducing higher education failure rates, and combating bullying more effectively.
The Wallonia-Brussels Federation Parliament witnessed intense debates this week between the majority and opposition on press freedom and free education.
New assembly President Benoît Dispa (Les Engagés) called for greater listening in his speech.
"The world would fare better if we cultivated a greater sense of listening, viewed opponents as potential partners rather than irreconcilable enemies, and treated disagreements as invitations for dialogue," Dispa remarked.
