The president of the party and the new minister did not expand on the contacts they had before the person concerned accepted the proposal. Mr. Bouchez wanted to transform the “difficulty” posed by the departure of Mrs. Wilmès in “opportunity“.
“Hadja Lahbib was my first choice and my only choice. It came quite simply, by the qualities that we know of him“, he explained during a press conference. “We might make more conservative, easier choices, but if we want to bring people closer to politics, we must also be able to show that politics is not a closed environment, where it is always the sames”, added the president of MR.
From Boussu to rue des Petits Carmes
Born in 1970 in Boussu, a commune of the Francs Borains club of which Mr. Bouchez is president, Ms. Lahbib is of Algerian origin and now lives in Brussels in the commune of Schaerbeek. “She perfectly embodies a meritocratic journey: from a small house in Boussu to the presentation of the news, through hard work and commitment, from Boussu to rue des Petits Carmes (headquarters of the FPS Foreign Affairs), there is a very long way, and this way is exemplary“, added Mr. Bouchez.
If she is a novice in politics, the new minister knows international issues well through her profession as a journalist, according to the Liberal president. “She may not have political experience but she has a better knowledge than some of her predecessors when they came to this position.“.
“I will have the honor of being the face of Belgium abroadr,” said Ms. Lahbib who claimed to be the first surprise when contacted.There are phone calls that take you into another dimension, I was a bit in shock. A long conversation ensued, without taboos“.
Designated in a context of war in Europe
This designation comes at a time when European history is being turned upside down. “Someone wrote that History is back, maybe it would be appropriate to say that History is knocking on our doors, and everyone responds in their own way“, she underlined. The new minister has not yet wanted to comment on the current files but has all the same referred to the war in Ukraine. She should also reserve her first trip, if the circumstances permit, in kyiv where Belgium has just reopened its embassy.
Ms. Lahbib paid tribute to her predecessor with whom she spoke at length. “My conversations with her helped me make my decision“, she explained, emphasizing the link of “sorority” which had been created between the two women.
The new minister was not known to be close to the MR. She did not comment on her commitment to the party. “I’m neither left nor right, I’m fundamentally free“, she said before adding that she was staying”captain of his soul“.
