The three groups also discussed at length the financial viability of the City, which is currently “threatened by the cost of pensions and by the underfunding of numerous services that the City provides for the benefit of a much larger population than those who live there“. PS +, MR and Engagés wish so.”establish a budgetary trajectory which will tend towards structural balance, so as to put an end to debt“. This will require “take strong measures to reduce expenses and increase revenues“. A new management plan will be drawn up in the first nine months of 2025.
The partners also agreed on the identification of refinancing solutions which depend on the different levels of power, in terms of security (police and firefighters), support for social integration income, education or culture.
The majority pact is also based on a programmatic base of 10 axes, which will constitute the basis of the future declaration of municipal policy, which will be presented at the beginning of 2025, in accordance with legal requirements. In addition to the budgetary measures already mentioned, the partners declare that they are making the calming of the public space a priority: the current drugs plan will be updated and amplified, in collaboration with all levels of power. The approach should be “global and integrated and concern the four aspects: preventive, curative, health and repressive“. The three groups are “aware of the limits of the current federal legal framework and wish to develop it to allow the police to put an end to behavior that harms the quality of life on the streets“.
The partners also intend to make the fight against all forms of poverty a priority, “in all policies carried out by the City, and in particular in the field of housing and the fight against voluntarily unoccupied housing“.
Finally, the partners plan to work on offering a “pleasant, peaceful and clean living environment for the people of Liégeois“. The preservation of green spaces is confirmed, as is the continuation of investments in active mobility and road safety. PS +, MR and Engagés are committed to “defend the increase in the public transport offer, including structuring, and the fine service of all neighborhoods“.
Regarding the composition of the Municipal College, as announced in our pages, it will be headed by Mayor Willy Demeyer, whose responsibilities will include the police, the transversal strategic plan, the budget and sport, and will count the members following:
1. Gilles Foret, first alderman, in charge of regional planning, town planning, green spaces and cleanliness;
2. Carine Clotuche, Alderwoman for Finance, Environment and Biodiversity, Heritage, and Gender Equality;
3. Roland Léonard, alderman for Works, Buildings, Public Spaces and Real Estate Affairs;
4. Maggy Yerna, alderman for Housing, Economic Development and Municipal Personnel;
5. Elisabeth Fraipont, Alderwoman for Culture, Public Reading and Duty of Memory;
6. Julie Fernandez Fernandez, alderman for Public Education and Intergenerational Policies;
7. Fabrice Drèze, Alderman for Commercial and Tourist Attractiveness;
8. Benjamin Hurard, alderman for Civil Status, Early Childhood and Youth;
9. Jean-Paul Bonjean, president of the CPAS
The majority pact will be submitted to the municipal council for a vote on December 2.
