Sunday, May 1, the MR will gather in the Liège region, in Herstal, a socialist stronghold, but also a locality where, in 2018, one in four voters voted for the PTB. In Herstal, the MR weighed just under 9% of the vote. So why this choice? Because Herstal has been “an industrial city”and because “we wanted to show that these territories should not live in the past and that the liberal solutions are those of redeployment which gives everyone a future and not confine ourselves, as we have too often done, to a certain misery or a certain fatalism”explains Georges-Louis Bouchez.
During this meeting, it will also be an opportunity for the MR to recall its priorities and to put forward a “flagship” proposal for the MR: the granting of a capital of 25,000 euros to young people aged 18-25, under certain conditions. “Today, there are many young people who, for lack of means, are unable to launch their business, carry out a training or education project. This is the reason why we have set up Youth Capital”, explains Georges-Louis Bouchez. These 25,000 euros might be paid “once or monthly”.
This money would be used for three things. “Either to finance home ownership, because we know it is a challenge not to fall into poverty, or an economic project, launching a start-up, launching a business, or a teaching or training, for example going to study abroad”explains Georges-Louis Bouchez.
Where would the money come from? “This amount would not be compatible with a series of already existing allowances”, continues the President of MR. Those who opt for this “Youth Capital” will waive family allowances. Georges-Louis Bouchez recalls, however, that “family allowances, not everyone receives them, at least up to 25 years old”. Overall, the budget needed to finance this measure would be higher than what family allowances currently cost, since, as Georges-Louis Bouchez explains, “there are additional audiences that will appear, so there is indeed an additional cost”. The President of the MR insists, “we mobilize capital that must be productive”it is not a matter “free money”. As to “slight additional cost”, it will be compensated, “as we increase the integration of young people, via, for example, training, it is as many people who will not have to have social benefits in the future, but who will be productive”believes Georges-Louis Bouchez.
Young people would return their projects “with the administration, which will have criteria to determine”, specifies the President of the MR.