Didier Gosuin, you were there in the very first Brussels government in 1989, as environment minister. How was that?
Didier Gosuin: We had to build everything from scratch. For example, the predecessor of Leefmilieu Brussel started with four staff, we met with the entire staff around the table. It was particularly fascinating to set up everything: the construction of water treatment stations, selective waste collection, permit procedures, etc.
You were Brussels minister for twenty years, Guy Vanhengel for seventeen years. Which colleague do you remember best?
Guy Vanhengel: (With a straight face) That’s very simple: Didier Gosuin.
Gosuin: (Guffaws) Ah, il me bouffe la parole (he takes the words right out of my mouth, ed.). I always got along well with Charles (Picqué, ed.), a charismatic man who symbolized the beginning of the Region. And although I was an FDF member and he was a Volksunie member, I also had very friendly contact with Vic Anciaux. He knew what he wanted, but he was also a warm man who I respected. I was really devastated when he died.
Vanhengel: I enjoyed working with François-Xavier de Donnea. Also with Charles by the way. Today’s Brussels PS has become unrecognizable compared to the PS under Picqué.
