“I understand their concerns”: Bart De Wever speaks about the national strike expected this Monday

This Monday, January 13, a major demonstration will be held in Brussels to protest against the pension reform planned by the next federal government. At a New Year’s Eve party, N-VA leader Bart De Wever spoke about this.

Yesterday evening, on the occasion of the New Year, the president and leaders of the N-VA brought together some 5,000 members and sympathizers of the nationalist formation in Mechelen.

In his speech, Bart De Wever spoke at length about the federal negotiations which he has been leading for around six months. However, these discussions prove, by his own admission, difficult. “I’m not going to hide the reality… This country is in very bad shape. (…). Decisive action is needed to ensure our prosperity in the short and long term. I prefer to tell you honestly: the pass we have to cross is out of category“, he conceded.

Tomorrow, while a national demonstration will be held in Brussels to protest against the pension reform planned by the next federal government, Bart De Wever spoke on this subject at our microphone.

“I understand their concerns. My wife is a teacher. You can imagine that every evening I hear what is said at school and that people have a lot of concerns about their pension and their working conditions.“.

He also wanted to qualify the comments of certain unions: “The stories the unions tell are horror stories that have never been on the table. It’s true that we are going to make in-depth reforms and that it will be hard, but it will not be horror. What I would dare to suggest is to wait until the agreement is concluded before protesting, demonstrating or even going on strike, which complicates the lives of all citizens“.

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