Flemish socialist leader Conner Rousseau has addressed the faithful on the eve of the Mayday holiday. The Vooruit leader said his party that forms part of PM De Wever’s 5-way federal coalition government must ‘protect the welfare state from attacks from the right’ and that his party must ‘put the country back in order and protect the future’.
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Flemish socialist leader Conner Rousseau defends joining De Wever I government in Mayday message
Colin Clapson
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"Our struggle in government is to do this in a social way, to ensure that those efforts are shared fairly. Everyone will have to do their part, including the super-rich."
"Because those who go to work every day are already giving up a serious chunk of their wages. Then surely it is only fair that those who earn millions on shares also contribute something."
‘Vooruit is the party of care’
Mr Rousseau also has praise for workers in the care sector. "If our care staff are ready for us day and night, then Vooruit will be ready for them day and night. In the years to come, we will continue to fight for our care staff and we will continue to invest in care staff. Vooruit is the party of care."
‘We will continue social struggle in government’
Rousseau didn’t shy away from addressing criticism from the labour movement, the socialist health fund and even the socialist rank and file levelled at Vooruit’s participation in the De Wever I government. He says he understands the concerns of his supporters. "But what would you prefer me to say? 'Sorry, we did not save the index top-up. Sorry, there is no investment in healthcare. Sorry, the super-rich pay nothing.'"
According to Mr Rousseau, having Vooruit in this government is the right choice. "When the going gets tough, we don't run away. Then we will take our responsibility."
"In the good tradition of Mayday, we will continue to wage that social struggle, and we will continue to fight, fight until we drop."
"That social struggle is what Vooruit is fighting every day in government. And with results. First and foremost to protect people's purchasing power in difficult times."
Mr Rousseau calls for investment in security
"Everyone knows that you don't stop Putin with a bouquet of flowers," the socialist leader said. "Everyone knows that we as a small country alone cannot do anything against Russia. And so we have to work together. With Europe and with NATO. And everyone also knows that if you are a member of a club, you have to pay your membership fee."
"But security is about so much more than buying weapons and tanks. We don't need Robocops, we don't need everybody trying to outbid each other, no, we need investments that really protect and really strengthen our security."