Free and Responsible (French: Libres et responsables; abbr. LIB·RES[a]) is a French-speaking political party in Belgium founded on 25 April 2025 by Olivier Maingain and his son, Fabian Maingain [fr], as well as other members who previously left the DéFI party.[1]
On 20 December 2024, Olivier Maingain, who had been president of the DéFI party for 24 years and who had had numerous disagreements with the new president, Sophie Rohonyi [fr], announced his resignation from the party. Maingain has accused Rohonyi of making DéFI dependent on Reformist Movement under her leadership and no longer protecting the autonomy of the Brussels Region,[2] as well as several other controversies, including increasing the weight of the extreme right and populist nationalist movements.[3] Immediately after leaving DéFI, Olivier Maingain announced the future creation of a new political party. Fabian Maingain [fr], Olivier's son, also left DéFI on 16 April 2025.[3]
The party's name, logo and platform were presented on 24 April 2025 by Maingain in front of journalists in the presence of his son, several colleagues from Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, where Maingain is mayor, and Marc Cools [fr], a former MR member.[4]
The party's logo is presented in yellow and blue, the colours of the European Union flag.[5]
LIB·RES claims to aim to unite "French-speaking federalists, social democrats, progressive liberals, pragmatic ecologists and disillusioned humanists".[6]
LIB·RES goals include:[2]
The party also wants properly funded social security and decent incomes, as well as a rapid exit from fossil fuels[7].
Sccording to RTBF journalist Himad Messoudi LIB·RES has many right-wing markers in its charter: "name of the party, libres for freedom and individual responsibility which are cardinal values; a lower corporate tax than the current average: 20%, and a reduced rate of 15% on the first €250,000 of profits for SMEs; "controlled and chosen" migration; budgetary rigor." Messoudi described Lib·res as a centre-right party, to the right of Les Engagés, comparing it to Emmanuel Macron's political position in 2014: "one who came from the left, but who wanted to overcome divisions, and ended up firmly on the right."[7]
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