First asked regarding the tragedy that occurred on Sunday during the collection of the Gilles in Strépy-Bracquegnies, Maxime Prévot recalled that any mayor had to prepare to be able to be confronted one day with such a terrible event. “Whether it’s a day of celebration or not, it’s horror. It takes on a particular dimension when you know the context. For a mayor, it’s always a dramatic situation that we can all face. It’s This is why it is necessary to work repeatedly on the fluidity of the procedures for the triggering of the emergency plans. To ensure that all the services know how to operate in due time.”
Following this tragedy, Maxime Prévot does not wish to point out shortcomings in the security of the event. “You need a lot of humility in the face of a tragedy like this. Following the accident in Nice, which looked quite similar, we were all won over a bit by paranoia, with the desire to want to be extra vigilant I remember that the way of organizing the Fêtes de Wallonie in Namur for example echoed this and concrete blocks were placed at the entrances to the city with the fear that there would be a crazy vehicle penetrating through everything “, explains the president of the party “Les Engagés”.
The latter, however, believes that over the years, security measures are less important because it is also necessary to avoid falling into paranoia at each event. “You have to recognize that over time, you fade some of these measures because you may be more confident once more. At the time, we were in a terrorist context which was very powerful and which has diminished today. fortunately today. I therefore think that we must remain extremely vigilant without falling into paranoia, otherwise we will create a society that is extremely anxiety-provoking and a very traumatic youth who have already had trouble with the health crisis.
Maxime Prévot also indicated that this type of drama might not be anticipated. “It must be said, we can never anticipate the isolated gesture of people who have two neurons connected or who are in a process of excess under any influence. Zero risk does not exist but I can assure you that all my fellow mayors and myself, we generally do our best with our services to reduce the risks.”
“The government is up to the sense of welcoming Ukrainian refugees”
Concerning the reception of Ukrainian refugees in Belgium, the guest of the dayWe need to talk believes that the government is not operational enough. “Even though I am an opposition deputy, I do not want to want to criticize for the pleasure of criticizing. With this new political movement ‘Les Engagés’, what we want is to regenerate the way to engage in democracy and leave partisan postures a little. So yes, today I have the feeling that the government is up to the sense of welcome that we must have. On the other hand, operationally, in the way things have been implemented so far, no, it’s still too vague. Fortunately, in this country, we can rely on a network of municipalities, mayors, who are extremely mobilized on the ground and who compensate lack of information or organization.”
In terms of the education of refugees, Maxime Prévot does not say he is worried regarding the follow-up of it. However, the question is regarding the financing of this schooling. “Like what we have planned in Namur, we have already been able to identify in our municipal network the places of supervision that there were. There remain question marks on the financial methods of intervention, c It’s clear. In Wallonia, we are told regarding one euro per inhabitant. It’s almost a handout compared to the costs that will be generated, but I don’t even want to talk regarding money when it comes to to help people fleeing war and bombs.”
“The issue of energy sovereignty has been handled with great amateurism”
The government’s recent energy deal was also discussed. Following the extension of two reactors until 2035, Maxime Prévot said he was “in favor of the extension of two reactors”. “However, we must not go into one-upmanship for the moment. I think it was essential to extend the two reactors which were the subject of debate. To continue to invest in research and development in this area (.. ..) We must now say to ourselves that, in a patchwork agreement, the question of energy sovereignty is a fundamental strategic question in a State. And it has been managed with a great deal of amateurism and far too of dogmatism in recent years”, regrets Maxime Prévot.
“We are told that, for two years, we were bound hand and foot to Engie on the end of nuclear power, that we had no other choice but to leave nuclear power because in any case they would unplug the reactors. At the end of last year, following tensions within the government, we were told that finally, meeting on March 18 to decide whether or not, stop or once more. We were then told that we had to build two gas-fired power stations to compensate for the closure of the two reactors. Today, we are told that despite the maintenance of the two reactors, we will still need two more gas-fired power stations. So we are in a situation where we are increasing our dependence on gas and therefore potentially on Russia. We have no vision of the speed at which ecological transitions will take place.”
For Maxime Prévot, the goal of 100% renewables will not be possible in 2050. “We will not be able to cover all electricity consumption solely with wind and photovoltaic power. Let’s invest in research and development but we know that we are going to have an explosion in the electrification of the car fleet, for example. We must not see nuclear power with otherworldliness, but we must not demonize this energy either, which we risk sorely needing to maintain a sovereignty and price control”, concludes the president of “Committed”.