Tens of thousands protest in demonstrations called by Belgium's two largest unions against austerity
Massive protests in Brussels against government austerity measures
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
The police clarified that the actions of these youths are unrelated to the demands of the protest called for by Belgium’s two largest trade unions.
According to eyewitnesses cited by the Associated Press, riot police confronted groups of organized youths who deliberately sought to clash with law enforcement.
This demonstration took place as Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever held negotiations with his coalition partners over sweeping austerity measures aimed at achieving savings of 10 billion euros ($11.2 billion) by the end of 2029, to reduce the deficit, which exceeded 5% of GDP.
His government, which took office in February 2025, quickly faced a united front of trade unions that regularly mobilize thousands of people in the streets of Brussels, with numbers surpassing 80,000 in October last year and in mid-March.
On Friday, high school and university students joined the protesters, denouncing budget cuts affecting education in the French-speaking regions of Belgium.
Lola Timmermans, a journalism student, told the Associated Press: “If we do not fight now, and if we do not hold the authorities accountable now, things will only get worse.”
The anger is centered on the decision to raise registration fees at higher education institutions and universities in the French-speaking community, locally known as “Minerval.”
