The multiple supporters of Bouchez clutch the campaign at MR

The two historical pillars of the MR being in international orbit, the way was laid out for Willy Borsus who, everywhere in this formation broken with internal quarrels, appeared as THE personality likely to "embody the synthesis". But the former minister-president chose to stick to his ministerial career, paving the way for multiple candidacies. "A beautiful democratic exercise", for Clementine Barzin who plays her card as a Brussels candidate. "A democratic opportunity like we never had", says Denis Ducarme. The election will perhaps be played in two rounds, the first will be stripped on November 12.

Embodying the "social wing" of the party Christine Defraigne launches hostilities: "The party needs oxygen, speech to be liberated, to set course and reconnect with a number of societal issues it has gone through, not just to communicate, but to change its agenda. We had the feeling of being in a formatted, robotic party. "

A robotic party lacking oxygen? "A robot does not need oxygen", Denis Ducarme jokes. We laugh, but the tension goes up a notch when Philippe Goffin starts in his turn. "This campaign shows that the party is able to question itself and the way the activists want it to be managed. I'm not one of those who rewrite the past saying 'we should have'. " He puts: "With regard to the militants, it is also not very respectful to announce a rallying to so-and-so or so.The activists will look at the projects and make a statement."

That same morning, Federal Minister Sophie Wilmes announced that she would support Georges-Louis Bouchez, candidate of the apparatus which most tenors join in the media day after day. The other candidates start to find it brackish. The Montois is not yet present, he looks for a parking space when Philippe Goffin adds: "Our activists do not need a crutch to lean on to vote for." "They do not need voting instructions", intervenes Ducarme. Defraigne abounds: "It's an insult to the militants, they are able to make up their minds for themselves, and this pounding is not healthy, we all feel it." "Every liberal has the same freedom to pronounce in soul and conscience", adds Clementine Barzin.

Georges-Louis Bouchez will have the opportunity to respond. In the meantime, we are leading the debate on the electoral erosion of the MR that becomes, to say the least, worrying. What to say to a young Molenbeek to convince him to vote MR? What to say to those middle-class households who chose Ecolo on May 26th? We feel that the candidates have prepared their explanations. "We were not able to talk to them, we cut ourselves off from certain realities, says Philippe Goffin. The mesh of our local elected representatives has not been sufficiently used. Today we often prefer a commitment in the associative circles to the political commitment. We have to bring those people back to us. "

"The question is how to re-enchant politics, said Christine Defraigne. A party must not be a machine of power but a vector of democracy … " Georges-Louis Bouchez has arrived. "It's a general problem, He attack. We have the traditional political parties on one side, the populists on the other, it's the new split. Our party must keep its foundations but if we can not expand on new themes with new ambassadors, we will produce the same effects. So I want to organize in-depth debates on new topics such as the impact of autonomous cars. All political parties are still talking like in the 80s. We need more open congresses on civil society. "

Philippe Goffin does not let go of his bone. "I see that our barons are applying old methods with which you propose to breakhe asks Bouchez. Activists are tired of these slogans. If you want to give a more modern image, you have to trust their intelligence. They phone me asking me why I still show up. vsit's not right. "

Bouchez does not appreciate. "When Caroline Cassart supports you in your district, you are delighted and you do not ask him to hide it"he replies. "She does not do it in the press"replied Goffin. "Every activist whoever he is has the right to express himself, persist Bouchez. I can understand that it annoys. A month ago, I was still considered the ugly ducklingit can not be said that I was favored during my political career. You can not blame me for doing a job to convince a series of people. "

"No one is fooled by this plan com 'Christine Defraigne intervenes. This gives a politbureau image. We live with. The bottom line is that we can debate. " Denis Ducarme is solemn: "We need to demonstrate that the MR has the maturity to lead a great democratic debate that will allow everyone to present their project in respect.After this election, it will move forward together. who are here today play a role in the future. "

And Clementine Barzin to return to the stakes: "The MR must take responsibility as a big party against the climate challenge. It must drive the transition, support businesses in innovation and promote soft mobility. The MR must also open the door to diversity ". Georges-Louis Bouchez replies: "We've been saying for years that we have to open up to young people, to the climate issue, to diversity, but it's weird, every time we do the lists, no one says: ' I will leave my place to someone of diversity '. You have to be a little more concrete. I want to put to the vote of the members the heads of lists that are chosen by the party office. " The warm-up lap is over.

All agree to "get out of the climate incantation"

Let's plant the decor. After nearly four months of royal information led by Didier Reynders and Johan Vande Lanotte, PS and N-VA were commissioned by the Palace to preform the new federal government. The first two parties in the country sent respectively Rudy Demotte and Geert Bourgeois to lead the discussions. They work with six parties. PS and MR francophone side. N-VA, sp.a, Open Vld and CD & V Flemish side. It seems that today, the pressure is likely to increase so that one of the four Flemish parties in the presence of the game. This pressure seems to be exerted by the socialist family, united, with a sp.a who does not wish to rise to power without being indispensable and a PS that will not rise without his partner in the North. It is more and more clearly the Open Vld which is in the line of sight. So we asked our five presidential candidates if they are ready to go back to the federal party without the Flemish Liberals.

It is Denis Ducarme who answers first. "In a month and a half, it will be a year since we no longer have a full-fledged government, it's bad for the country, its finances, for jobs, for growth. Belgium: How to get there Not by throwing exclusives The Flemish democratic parties do not want to go to government without the N-VA and end up with a Belang / N-VA opposition bloc. they told us, the two largest parties have to sit around the table and act to get a government as quickly as possible, so I'm saying, do not be exclusive whether it's in or out. If we had not thrown exclusives into the field, we might already have a government. "

Georges-Louis Bouchez is on the same wavelength. "Do not complicate the model, he said. Everyone who comes to the table saying 'it will automatically be without or automatically with', that's wrong. However we must maintain our link with the Open Vld, which remains our privileged partner. I do not want to come around the table saying 'we do not go if you do not take the Open Vld'. We must do everything to get on with him but without making it a sine qua non condition. "

Clementine Barzin seems less affirmative. MR and Open Vld are privileged partners, she recalls calling PS and N-VA to "take responsibility". Christine Defraigne does not say anything else: "Our fellow citizens are asking for the country to be managed, we have two preformers, we need to stop these ego quarrels between their two parties, I prefer the Open Vld to the N-VA of course, but we have to be able to negotiate With no beacons, no confederalism, no dismantling of our state, a party president must build bridges and rework the union of francophones, so as not to be eaten alive if institutional demands emerge on the flemish side. "

"Very fair, very fair, Christine," Denis Ducarme then launches with gravity. MR must not agree to embark on new state reformChristine Defraigne insists. "If some come with this kind of impulse, we must be ready to respond without provoking new elections", she says. Philippe Goffin pleads for strengthening ties with Flemish liberals. "I do not see how the Open Vld would bring trouble"he replies.

If there is a theme that is unique to the NCM, it is immigration. Not on a necessary speed of procedures and a plan of European distribution, the international legal framework, or the recognition of the stake itself. No, it's on the balance sheet of the outgoing executive that it diverges. Bloc Bouchez-Ducarme against block Barzin-Defraigne-Goffin.

For the Liegeoise – who still has the file of home visits across the gorge – it is clear that it appears "to find humanistic resources to enable migrants to integrate into our society and give a future to their children". What was lacking under the Michel government? "I defend the socio-economic record"It all comes down to answering.For the reason, the cohabitation MR / N-VA was not simple.His grumblings against the former Secretary of State for Immigration Theo Francken did not fail in the previous legislature.

In a more open line, Philippe Goffin, he points out that even at the MR, members were hosts, without daring to say. "We must conduct a dialogue"with these people.

The opinion is worth, but the approach is not unanimous to the party because, in the other camp, Georges-Louis Bouchez, he supports and nail the action of the outgoing government that has "found a whole series of mechanisms for the referral (illegals, Ed) in the country of origin is effective and faster"He welcomes it,"because leaving people in an illegal situation is not doing them a favor"."I do not deny anythingAnd to point fingers a "Francken obsession" French side. "When I did a selfie at RTBF with Raoul Hedebouw, nobody talked about it"However, there was, according to him, a relentlessness:"every time we spoke under the legislature, we were more spokesman for the MR, but a lawyer for the N-VA. While it's not our fault. It was related to the political configuration".

Current Minister of Minority Government Denis Ducarme abounds: "Congratulations to this government for sending the most illegal – imprisoned criminals – in their country of origin. A balanced asylum and immigration policy has been pursuedA position that is not surprising for the one who voted hardening of family reunification conditions in 2011 with the N-VA, a law he wanted to make stricter, as well as that governing the acquisition of Belgian nationality. The man detonated moreover at the beginning of the year with his "to be seen such the Walloon Francken does not bother me".

By 2024, unchanged policy, the structural deficit of the house Belgium will reach nearly 12 billion euros – the fault of the absence of captain in command of the ship. Which solution? For Denis Ducarme, we must continue the momentum of the outgoing government that "reduced the deficit by three, with savings of 10% in terms of operations and 12% of investments"."We must continue the hunt for waste. And job creation – every job created is 30,000 euros less public spending."

But departments are at the bone … and the amounts to have to find in the billions, slip. Enough to do the same thing? "It should still be a real effort of truth vis-a-vis citizens", tackle Philippe Goffin."Justice is in great trouble, the police are not doing well either. The next government will have to restore confidence, look at its measures and their effects and perhaps correct some aspects"The member also intends to quickly request a cost estimate to the Court of Auditors.continue to reduce the tax burden", especially on low wages"who also have a right to a decent quality of life","who revived consumption".

Clementine Barzin abounds on the costing: for her, it requires a cost-effectiveness analysis of the expenditure. An exercise prior to the pursuit of socio-economic reforms.

For Christine Defraigne, "you have to take advantage of the window offered by the low rates". And to remind the spirits of the national pact for strategic investments of the Michel government that did not come into being, because of the fall of the executive. "Virtuous public investment is needed for productive jobs, but also for energy transition. In consultation with the Regions".

"On condition that they are profitable", alert Georges-Louis Bouchez, who wants to be more radical on the budget issue:"we must think of a zero budget, going back line by line, not in economics, but by asking the question of what is indispensable and what is not. So everything is necessary, but given the state's situation, there are missions that, unfortunately, may have to be done differently or for which other methods of financing will have to be found."As with a refederalisation of certain skills for example.