Tens of thousands strike in Brussels against austerity and NATO military spending

Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Brussels on Wednesday in a
mass show of defiance against the Belgian federal government’s austerity plans.
Organized by the country’s major trade unions, the demonstration aimed to send a
strong signal ahead of the summer break: workers will not remain silent as social
protections are rolled back.

Union organizers estimated the turnout at between 30,000 and 35,000 people, while
police placed the figure closer to 20,000. Regardless of the count, the message was
loud and clear.
“We are being fleeced,” declared Ann Vermorgen, chairwoman of the Christian union
ACV, addressing the gathered crowd. Her remarks echoed the broader sentiment
expressed by labour leaders from across the ideological spectrum, who slammed the
government’s proposed cuts to pensions, unemployment benefits, and other social
services.

Thierry Bodson, head of the socialist union ABVV, didn’t mince words, calling Prime
Minister Alexander De Croo’s government a right-wing “government of liars.” Gert
Truyens of the liberal ACLVB union criticised the erosion of social dialogue, demanding
greater respect for workers.

For months, Belgian unions have opposed the federal government’s fiscal reform
agenda, which they say amounts to the systematic dismantling of the country’s social
safety net. Wednesday’s march was timed strategically, meant to be a final warning
before political activity slows for the summer.
While the protest itself remained peaceful, the associated national strike caused
widespread disruption. Charleroi Airport was forced to cancel all flights, and public
transport in Brussels was severely affected throughout the day.

The unions are not backing down. A larger, nationwide protest is already scheduled for
October 14. Bodson remains confident that public opposition will grow as the impact of
the austerity measures becomes more visible. “People will increasingly realise that
these measures affect them,” he said. “Today, many still believe they might be spared.
But eventually, the pension penalty will hit everyone.”

As Belgium braces for more political turbulence in the autumn, the unions have made it
clear: the streets will remain a powerful arena for resistance.

Photo – Belgaphoto, James Arthur Gekiere