The ideal retirement age is 60 years or less for 65.1% of Walloons, a survey conducted on behalf of the Walloon parliament said on Tuesday, in view of the launch on Friday of an unprecedented citizen panel on the challenges of aging.
The percentage increases to 94.5% if one adds those who place this ideal age between 61 and 65 years.
The "citizen panel", an initiative that only Ireland and Iceland have attempted so far, is another attempt by the Walloon deputies to promote citizen participation in public debate according to the president of the Walloon Parliament, André Antoine.
Thirty people representing the Walloon population were selected to debate the topic of an aging population with regard to aid and care needs during the four-day period up to mid-May, taking into account the budgetary framework. They will be supported by academic experts as well as by the Destrée Institute (pluralistic). The parliamentary groups and the Walloon government will be called upon to respond to the declaration that these "panellists" will publish at the end of their work.
To start the work, the parliament commissioned a poll at the Sonecom office, which interviewed 1,023 representative Wallonia residents by choosing the questions. The results indicated that Walloons would like to preserve their autonomy at the end of their lives.
Thus, an overwhelming majority (8 out of 10) are rather (27.2%) or completely (55.9%) in favour of the euthanasia of people who request it at the end of life. In case of loss of autonomy, 6 Walloons out of 10 want to live at home with help on hand. If the future Walloon autonomy insurance remains largely unknown, its principle nevertheless receives the approval of two thirds of the respondents once explained.
The Brussels Times
