4 minWorld
Brussels Anti-Austerity Protest Draws 30,000 as Clashes Erupt
A national strike against Belgium's budget cuts brought tens of thousands to Brussels, where a small group clashed with police. Unions distanced themselves from the violence, which followed a 43% tuition hike and broader cost-of-living pressures.
Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Brussels on Friday for a national strike against the Belgian government's budget-tightening measures, with scattered clashes breaking out between police and a small group of protesters. Authorities estimated the main march drew about 30,000 participants, most of them union members and supporters dressed in red or green who marched peacefully through the capital.
The unrest was concentrated near the central railway station, where dozens of young people, many wearing black and with their faces covered, threw rocks and firecrackers at police, according to the Associated Press. Several fires were set, including one in which a man was photographed lighting an electric scooter ablaze. Riot police responded with tear gas canisters and water cannons, dispersing the crowds. The chaos contributed to increased traffic across the city.
Police said the violence was caused by people unaffiliated with the anti-austerity demonstration. The two largest labor unions in Belgium, which organized Friday's daylong national strike, also distanced themselves from the unrest, saying those responsible were not part of their movement. A separate public-sector walkout is planned for Monday.
The strike reflects mounting social tension over the cost of living and government austerity. Marie Gobert, a single mother and social worker who traveled from Namur to join the march, told the AP she «cannot make ends meet.» She said the rising cost of schools, public transport and train tickets weighs on her most. «You can feel the social tension, you can feel anger starting to simmer everywhere,» Gobert said. «The education system is being dismantled, and when young people want to speak out, no one listens to them.»
Education funding has become a flashpoint. This summer, Belgium's French Community government raised standard university tuition by roughly 43 percent for the academic year, from 835 euros to 1,194 euros, as part of a broader austerity program. In June, protesters clashed with police in Brussels over the tuition hike and other grievances with the French-language education system, including overcrowded classrooms and difficulty accessing study materials. This week, hundreds of students took to the streets of the eastern city of Liege, where local media reported that 107 students were arrested.
Friday's demonstration was the latest in a series of labor actions across Europe, where governments have faced resistance to spending cuts and rising prices. The Belgian strike shut down schools, disrupted public transport and halted some services, though the main march remained largely peaceful until the clashes near the station.
Union leaders have framed the strike as a response to policies they say shift the burden onto workers and families. The government has argued that budget discipline is necessary to stabilize public finances. With a public-sector walkout set for Monday, the standoff is likely to continue.
4
