While Georges-Louis Bouchez (MR) cites his “ideal political model” without a Ministry of Culture, Elisabeth Degryse (Les Engagés), Minister of Culture, and above all, partner of the MR in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, distances herself from his words and reaffirms his attachment to Culture… without knowing the amount of subsidies granted by his ministry.
Georges-Louis Bouchez cited his “ideal political model” in the columns of the newspaper Le Soir on Saturday. A system without a Ministry of Culture. Remarks which provoke an attack of hives among Les Engagés and at the PS. Élisabeth Degryse, guest at 7:50 a.m. on bel RTL Matin, tempers: “Mr. Bouchez says although he is not attacking me, it was clearly stated in his remarks“, she says straight away.
However, she distances herself from the position of the strong man of the liberal party: “For us, Les Engagés, Culture is essential, so I do not agree with what Mr. Bouchez said. It’s not just a concern of circumstances. Culture was already one of the six regenerations proposed in the manifesto of the Engagés in 2022. So it is really a priority for us, a pillar of our society which is essential“, assures Élisabeth Degryse. Before adding, once again: “We need a minister dedicated to Culture“.
Comparison with the United States
The president of the MR sang the praises of the American system, where there is no Minister of Culture. “You have to compare apples and apples“, replies Minister Degryse, who emphasizes that “of major museums in Washington (…) are funded by the federal government.
She specifies: “There is no Minister of Culture, but there is a Ministry of Culture. There are resources dedicated to federal cultural institutions. So let’s not compare too quickly and in a useless and incomplete way“.
Budget
However, when asked about the amount of subsidies that her ministry distributes each year, Minister-President Engagés avoids the question: “I think that the issue is not knowing how many subsidies we distribute, the issue is knowing how these subsidies are distributed“, she replies.
Surprised, our journalist Martin Buxant does not let go of the matter: “You don’t want to tell me how much?”
“I don’t know the total amount of Culture subsidies, I can’t give you a figure”admits the Minister of Culture and Budget. She adds: “It’s so complex and so multiple as a type of subsidy.“.
As a reminder, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation voted for its 2025 budget in October 2024, just a few months ago.
elisabeth degryse les Engagés mr Bouchez georges-louis bouchez Culture
