The protests initiated by unions against the budget cuts planned by the federal government in Belgium continued with a strike in the public sector on Monday, October 12.
While employees protesting the economic policies of the government led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever caused interruptions in public services, new events took place in the capital Brussels.
According to Reuters, public services came to a partial halt due to the nationwide strike. The failure of government partners to agree on the new federal budget deepened the political crisis.
Clashes broke out between police and groups of young people gathered around the Midi Train Station in Brussels on Monday afternoon.
It was reported that the demonstrators threw stones and fireworks at the security forces and damaged the surrounding vehicles. The police intervened in the events with tear gas and detained some demonstrators.
During the clashes, many vehicles were damaged and one car was set on fire.
Brussels public transport company STIB announced that Clemenceau metro station was closed due to the events. Some bus services around Midi Station were also stopped or diverted to different routes.
Police reported that the situation was calm throughout the capital, except for the areas where the incidents took place.
30 PERCENT OF TRAIN TRIPS WERE CANCELED
The strike of public employees also negatively affected transportation across the country.
According to the statement of Belgian Railways Enterprise SNCB, approximately 30 percent of intercity train services were cancelled. Most of the additional trains serving during peak hours were not operated.
While approximately half of the local and suburban trains operated, metro and buses operated with reduced frequency in the capital Brussels. On some tram lines, services were stopped completely.
Due to the strike, there were also disruptions in garbage collection, education and postal services. Public broadcasters RTBF and VRT made changes to their broadcast streams.
The latest developments in Belgium took place after the widely attended protest held in Brussels on Friday, October 9.
According to the Belgian press, between 30 thousand and 50 thousand people attended the demonstration, which was called by the unions and protested the government's economic policies.
While most of the march was peaceful, clashes broke out between some groups and the police after the demonstration.
During the incidents, vehicles were set on fire and public and private properties were damaged. Security forces intervened against the demonstrators with tear gas and pressurized water.
While many people were detained following the events, it was reported that there were children among those detained.
Although a new mass march was not planned in the capital on Monday, October 12, violence occurred again in the demonstrations accompanying the public sector strike.
WHY DO BUDGET CUTTS DRAW A REACTION?
At the center of the protests in Belgium are the federal government's economic policies aimed at reducing public expenditures.
Unions argue that planned austerity measures will weaken public services and put pressure on workers' incomes.
The government states that expenditures should be cut in order to control the increasing public debt and reduce the budget deficit.
In his previous statement, Prime Minister De Wever stated that if challenging budget measures are not implemented today, public debt and interest costs will increase, which will leave a heavy economic burden on future generations.
While the protests in the streets continued, the deadlock in budget negotiations between government partners further increased political pressure.
Prime Minister De Wever's speech on the state of the country, planned to be made in the parliament on Tuesday, October 13, was canceled after the coalition parties could not agree on the new federal budget.
According to reports in the Belgian press, there is a possibility that the budget agreement will be delayed until the end of October or the beginning of November 2026.
While it is considered that prolonged negotiations may strain the unity of the government coalition, unions are preparing to continue their reactions to budget cuts.
