The Reform Movement is making its comeback with Family Day in Durbuy. The president of the MR was questioned remotely by Christophe Deborsu in the program It’s not every day on Sunday. Georges-Louis Bouchez notably explained the measure proposed by his party to reduce the energy bill: the “basic package”.
Christophe Deborsu: You want the introduction of a basic package, ie a certain quantity of gas at a moderate price for all Belgians, rather than the extension of the social tariff. Paul Magnette, earlier, was clearly not once morest it. What would it be? Can we encrypt? So far, we’ve had a little bit of trouble getting figures for prices, etc. and people really want something concrete.
Georges Louis Bouchez: The idea is not very complicated. It is precisely to allow a determined quantity of energy which would then be at a reduced rate, and beyond this quantity then there we return to the normal rate. This is to avoid dividing the middle class. So that those who work are not cut in two and that all Belgians can have access to this energy. To answer your question on the budget very concretely, the size of the budget is not very complicated. Today more than 65% of electricity in Belgium is produced on something other than gas. So on nuclear or renewable. So what is needed is to seek part of these over-earnings in a special crisis contribution offered by the Reform Movement. To be very concrete with you, today a nuclear megawatt hour is produced at 35 euros. It is sold in some cases for more than 500 or 600 euros to the consumer. So we can see that nuclear power is very competitive economically, and so we can look for resources there, but also in renewables, to finance this reduced tariff for all Belgians.
Christophe Deborsu: But we don’t know what this quantity would be in this basic package, nor at what price it would be there, it remains a bit vague.
Georges Louis Bouchez: No, our proposal to be very clear is to calculate between 60 and 80% of an average consumption which would be at a reduced price. At what price? Here too we have to take the tariff just before the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, and therefore we would take a reference point. Either at this time a year ago or at the beginning of this year. That is subject to adjustments, but as I said, the key is above all to be able to set up this special crisis contribution. Because to spend money, you have to know where you’re going to get it. If it is to increase the taxes of our fellow citizens, there is no point in giving them in the left pocket what we are going to take back from them in the right pocket. So there, the Minister of Energy Tinne van der Straeten, she’s been telling us that she’s working for more than a year. The MR to provide a very concrete solution. We simply ask him to implement it.
Christophe Deborsu: High incomes will also be entitled to it? Mr. Magnette spoke of 80% of the population who might really be supported. Everyone would be entitled to this basic package? Even people who earn large sums?
Georges Louis Bouchez: Yes, because I’m going to be very clear with you, today tax justice is done through taxes. So you pay different taxes if you have high income or low income. But would you consider it normal for people to have different electricity rates depending on their income? If tomorrow you go to buy pasta at the store, will you pay a different price for it if you are an engineer or a job seeker? Will the price at the gas pump be different? It’s nonsense. It’s really to discourage people from working and so what, someone who has 2,500 euros, it can be for example a teacher who has 10 or 15 years of experience, he would have to pay more for his electricity than someone who earns 2,200 euros. It makes no sense, absolutely no sense. The prices must be the same for everyone and we achieve social and fiscal justice through taxation. So yes, we want to guarantee all Belgians. Above all, we will be very clear, how do you establish an electricity or gas bill on the basis of an income? We are not going to send his tax form, which is moreover two years behind current income, we are not going to send his tax form to Engie, that would make absolutely no sense.
