Di Rupo delivers State of the Union speech

“Belgium is climbing out of the depths,” said prime minister Elio di Rupo in his State of the Union speech yesterday. In an upbeat message to the House of Representatives, he said that the government had “regained trust” but that there was still important work to be done. the prime minister was making his last State of the Union speech before the elections next year.

“Over the past two years, our country has changed fundamentally,” he said, noting that he was “proud” of the decision coalition parties had made to form a government and bring to an end the longest period in Belgian history without a federal government. “It was a choice between acting or criticising,” he said. “A choice to tackle problems, build bridges and find concrete solutions for citizens and companies.”

Di Rupo argued that the coalition government under his leadership had achieved the greatest institutional reforms in the country’s history, tackling areas like child allowance, employment and health care. He also said that the country’s economic policies were working. “Belgium was one of the first countries in the European Union to implement a recovery strategy,” he said. “The Belgian model is beginning to have results.”

He acknowledged the vital role played in the economy by companies, entrepreneurs and the self-employed. “They are responsible for the strength of our economy,” he said. “That deserves respect.”

While he did not set out many new initiatives, Di Rupo did promise that the government would push ahead with plans to split savings banks from investment banks. He also suggested that the taxation system needed to be reformed and that the government was committed to increasing wages for 1.4 million workers.

The prime minister admitted that the crisis was far from over and called on everyone to work together. “If we work together – the federal state, regions, municipalities, citizens and companies – then we are capable of great things,” he said. “We have infinite talent in Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders.”

Jan Jambon of the Flemish opposition party N-VA criticised the speech as lacking in substance. “You can’t say that this government isn’t doing anything, but it is not solving the fundamental problems,” he said, going on to criticise Di Rupo for failing to tackle labour costs, which are still among the highest in Europe.

Meanwhile, Stefaan Van Hecke of Flemish party Groen argued that Di Rupo’s plan lacked vision, especially in areas like the creation of sustainable jobs, youth unemployment and the rising number of bankrupt companies. The parliament is to debate the State of the Union speech later today.