Violent Clashes Erupt in Brussels as Thousands Protest Against Federal Austerity Plans

Clashes broke out near Brussels Central station on Friday during a large demonstration organized by the country’s socialist trade union against the federal government’s austerity plans. While thousands of protesters gathered to oppose the budgetary measures, a smaller group engaged in violence, throwing wooden beams, glass bottles, and rubbish bins, according to The Belgian Times.

Heavy police deployments monitored the area, particularly focusing on groups of young people not wearing trade union colors. Although authorities noted that the main union march proceeded peacefully, riot police deployed tear gas, water cannons, and baton charges to counter groups of troublemakers involved in serious incidents before and after the march.

Reporting from Brussels, Al Jazeera’s Rosie Birchard described property damage and an acrid smell of burning in the air from fires and tear gas. Birchard also noted the presence of young people inspired by school protests in France, who sought to voice frustrations regarding their education environment and feeling ignored by authorities.

The unrest followed a tense week in Liege, where student protests, shop vandalism, and clashes with police resulted in more than 200 arrests and dozens of injured officers. In Brussels, the ABVV and ACV trade unions organized demonstrations under the slogan “stay out of our pockets,” drawing between 30,000 and 50,000 attendees marching from Brussels Central station to Brussels South Station.

Public anger stems from government austerity discussions surrounding the new budget, potential impacts on purchasing power, the wage indexation system, value-added tax (VAT), and annualised working time. Simultaneously, the ACV held a separate protest involving hundreds of activists at the capital’s headquarters of the governing coalition parties.