Walloon Parliament Mourns the Loss of Deputy pascal baurain
The Walloon Parliament paid tribute to Pascal Baurain,a regional deputy,who recently passed away. A minute of silence was observed during a parliamentary session,with a more formal tribute planned for next week.
baurain was deeply involved in environmental issues, especially concerning PFAS contamination, mobility, and local governance.At the Federation level, he focused on youth assistance programs and the houses of justice.
Colleagues remembered Baurain as “a right, committed and deeply human man,” stating that “His memory and his example will continue to inspire our commitments.”
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Carlo Di Antonio, the mayor of Dour and former Walloon Minister, shared his grief on Facebook, recalling their shared campaigns and Baurain’s successful efforts to secure a walloon MP seat for their district in May 2024. Di Antonio first knew Baurain as a lawyer advocating for vulnerable populations in housing cases in Saint-Ghislain and the Mons-borinage district, and noted Baurain effectively filled his parliamentary role between 2016 and 2019 while he served as a minister.
Daniel Olivier, the former socialist bourgmestre of Saint-Ghislain, acknowledged their past political rivalry while emphasizing their shared commitment to serving the people of Saint-Ghislain. He expressed shock at the speed with which Baurain’s illness progressed, calling it “an unjust event.”