Anti-government demonstration in Belgium ended with police intervention after tensions

The crowd gathered in Albertine Square at noon upon the call of various organizations and held a demonstration against the policies of the federal government.

Demonstrators protested the government's austerity policies and reforms of the Ministry of Education, which is responsible for the French-speaking community, demanding better working conditions, protection of purchasing power and strengthening of public services.

Protesters, who claimed that the police used disproportionate force in previous demonstrations, chanted slogans against police violence.

The group marching in the Saint-Gilles region during the demonstration was intervened by the police at around 13:00 local time.

Security forces used tear gas near Forest Street after some demonstrators tried to break through police lines by setting barricades on fire.

During the events, the area where shared electric scooters were located was also set on fire by a group of demonstrators.

Regarding the demonstration, which ended at 15.30, the police stated that the events "did not get out of control".

Call for general strike on 17 November

Speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, Celia Ponce said that the protests were organized to protect the future of young people, better working conditions and public services.

Ponce stated that they were against the government's policies and education reforms and called for a general strike with the participation of all sectors on November 17.

Student protests, which started in France as a reaction to education conditions, spread to the French-speaking part of Belgium on October 1.

There were clashes between the police and protesters from time to time, and approximately 150 people were detained after the demonstrations held in Brussels on October 17.

Complaints about police interventions in previous demonstrations were also brought to the agenda. As of October 21, Committee P (Comite P), the independent institution that oversees police activities in Belgium, had received many complaints about police interventions in protests attended by young people.