On the left, Ahmed Laaouej (PS) thanked Pensions Minister Karine Lalieux (PS): “You said the fight would be tough, we saw it and you held on. He also castigated “the unhealthy fantasy of the figure of the long-term unemployed who would receive the same pension as those who have worked”. “It is despicable and unworthy to present things like this. These fantasies only serve those who want to save money on the backs of pensioners. And those have suffered a disappointment, and that’s good. »
For her part, Marie-Colline Leroy (Ecolo) underlined the progress made in terms of gender equality. “Hold on and carry on this line,” she urged.
The right not satisfied
On the right, the MR unsurprisingly recalled that this agreement did not go far enough in his eyes. “But it’s a first step in the right direction,” qualified Christophe Bombled. The Liberal insisted on the social and financial sustainability of the reform, which still has to be negotiated with the social partners. Same criticism from the side of the CD&V, where Nahima Lanjri redeposited on Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s desk the party’s proposals in this area.
These positions somewhat annoyed the president of the Open Vld Egbert Lachaert. “If you’re in a coalition, own your shit!” “Launched the leader of the Prime Minister’s party in the face of criticism also made by his fellow presidents of majority parties. The deputy also denounced a “festival of disinformation” on the part of the opposition.
A clash between PTB and MR
This relationship to the truth was also the scene of a clash between Raoul Hedebouw (PTB, opposition) and the predecessor of Karine Lalieux at Pensions, MR Daniel Bacquelaine. The former qualified the latter as a “liar” when he announced that only 5 to 10% of workers should work until the age of 67. “Mr. Hedebouw handles the insult better than the truth,” replied the former minister, confirming his remarks made at the time of the Swedish coalition.
In opposition, Sophie Rohonyi (DéFI), deemed the agreement “unworthy of the challenge”. “Nothing on fiscal sustainability,” she criticized. Catherine Fonck (Les Engagés) pointed to this left-right divide. “This is not a pension reform,” she said.