This weekend, Belgian liberal party Mouvement Reformateur (MR) held its traditional 1 May Congress to celebrate labour day. For the first time it took place online with interventions by recently elected party president Georges-Louis Bouchez and with the participation of Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès.

During his intervention, MR President Bouchez called for a "Pact for a new society" that would be established at federal and other level of powers. He reminded his plea to reduce the number of ministers in Belgium, noting there are currently nine ministers that have health in their portfolio in Belgium. This Pact will not only be about relaunching the economy but the cultural, educational and work-life balance aspects of life will also need to be reviewed. 

Also Prime Minister Wilmès indicated the Belgian State sytem needed to be modernised after the COVID-19 crisis. "I work with the Regions and Communities of Belgium and can see that there is a will to work together as this crisis has shown us."

The Congress can be watched here