The Walloon opposition did not have words harsh enough on Friday to evoke the 2023 budget presented earlier in the followingnoon by the Di Rupo government.
We are talking regarding an aid of 1000 euros to face a bill of 10,000 euros
“It’s total smoke. No figures were given“, reacted the leader of the Engagés group in the Walloon parliament, François Desquesnes. “Yes, there is indeed aid for businesses, but it is minimal compared to the distress in which bakers, butchers, craftsmen find themselves… We are talking regarding aid of 1000 euros to deal with a bill for 10,000 euros and a mechanism that will not come into effect until January at the earliest“, he pointed out.
And for the citizens, “nothing, nada, schnol“. “No aid has been decided when 20% of the electricity bill depends on Wallonia. It continues to be non-assistance to anyone in danger“, he added, welcoming all the same the envelope of 95 million euros for 2022 and 2023 obtained for the indexation of the non-profit sector. “We’ve been asking for it for months. It’s a big win!” But for the rest, “to the great breath of fresh air expected by citizens and businesses, the Walloon government prefers apnea, while it passes“, he concluded.
An insult to the working class
“The government’s priority is clear: to reassure the markets. For households, on the other hand, there are no measures to help them pay their energy bills. The rest are non-measurements“, for his part lamented the leader of the PTB in the regional parliament, Germain Mugemangango.
“The Walloon Minister of Energy, Philippe Henry has announced that he is asking for help from the energy distribution network managers (GRD)… The PTB has been asking for months to attack their profits to lower the household bills. It’s good that things are progressing, but we’re no longer at the stage where we have to ask. We must demand and implement“, he continued.
As for business aid,it is mainly the big companies that will be helped, while the self-employed will have crumbs“, still regretted the group leader of the extreme left. “What we need are targeted measures for bakers, for the local grocer. With 44 billion in profits in 3 years, Total, which will also be able to benefit from the measures, does not need help.“
“This press conference was an insult to the working class which has been waiting for strong measures for too long“, he finally estimated.