Unions oppose proposed budget cuts and demand that the wealthiest contribute more.
On Friday, thousands of workers demonstrated in Brussels against Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s austerity policies, following a call by the General Labor Federation of Belgium (FGTB) and the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (CSC).
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The morning began with a gathering of at least 50,000 people who took part in the march, which set off shortly after 11 a.m. from Brussels-Central station toward Midi station.
Representatives of the FGTB and CSC went to the headquarters of the parties in the “Arizona” coalition — the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA, Flemish nationalists), the Reformist Movement (MR, French-speaking liberals), Les Engages (French-speaking Christian Democrats), Vooruit (Flemish social democrats) and the Christian Democratic and Flemish party (CD&V) — where they entered into negotiations with some of them.
The protest comes amid budget negotiations. The De Wever administration is seeking an additional 10 billion euros for the federal budget and must allocate the measures during the so-called “budget conclave,” a closed-door negotiation among the leaders of the Arizona coalition.
The European Commission expects Belgium’s budget plan before Oct. 15, and De Wever is scheduled to deliver his annual State of the Union address before the federal Parliament next week.
🚨🇧🇪 Chaos in the streets of Brussels, Belgium, as clashes erupt between protesters and police!
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Brussels, with several groups clashing with police.
Welcome to the capital of the EU. pic.twitter.com/knLfxotWkW
— Mario ZNA (@MarioBojic) October 9, 2026
Get Out of Our Pockets!
The FGTB demands that the government leave automatic wage indexation untouched, refrain from raising value-added tax and not introduce annualized working hours.
Both unions support an alternative proposal worth about 21 billion euros, based on requiring capital income and large fortunes to contribute more and cutting ineffective spending.
“It is not the pockets of workers or social benefit recipients that should be targeted, but those of the wealthiest,” said Myriam Delmee, president of the Union of White-Collar Employees, Technicians and Managers (SETCa).
Delmee attributed the austerity measures to a “European diktat,” in Spain as in Belgium, and warned: “A strike is already scheduled for late November: Either he gives in, or we will step up our actions.”
This is the fourth nationwide demonstration of the year, following one in May, and it adds to a wave of protests against the government’s policies that included a three-day strike in November 2025.
The current mass mobilizations are backed by teachers and students protesting education cuts by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, which is governed by the MR and Les Engages.
“Teachers have been taking to the streets for months. The government continues to turn a deaf ear,” said teacher Sylvia Zangeta, who cited two additional hours of work without extra pay, reduced funding for free meals and cuts to pension rights.
The FGTB has a mandate to call a general strike during the week of Nov. 23 if the government crosses those “red lines” in the budget negotiations, although the CSC prefers to wait for the outcome of the talks.
The demonstration coincided with transport strikes, with about 140 flights canceled at Brussels Airport. A railway strike and a public services strike are scheduled for Monday.
Separately from the march, hundreds of young people clashed with police near the departure station, prompting officers to respond with water cannons and tear gas. Several rental bicycles were set on fire in the adjacent square.
Police have clashed with protesters in Brussels, as tens of thousands took to the streets across Belgium over the cost of living and planned budget cuts.
Dozens of mostly young people threw rocks and firecrackers at officers near the capital’s central railway station. Police… pic.twitter.com/SZpcTTZvUm
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) October 9, 2026
The Money Lies with Those Who Profit from War.
Raoul Hedebouw, president and federal MP of the Workers’ Party of Belgium, took to social media to address the current situation as follows:
“Once again, tens of thousands of people from across the country are marching through the streets of Brussels to protest the dismantling of social protections driven by the De Wever-Bouchez government.
Chemical industry workers, nurses, railway workers, teachers, cultural workers, and young people. Their message is clear: enough is enough; we will no longer tolerate attacks on our purchasing power and the cost of living.
No more dismantling our social security system.
No more government that refuses to act on high fuel prices while cutting public transport.
No more attacks on our youth.
No more government that penalizes part-time workers while driving up the cost of early childhood care.
No more plans to raise VAT.
No more government claiming a lack of funds, when the wealthiest 1% increased their wealth by 22 billion last year and the government finds billions for war and tax handouts to big business.
We support this movement. And we will continue to do so. Let them look for the money where it really is: with the wealthiest 1% and those who profit from war.
The working class has already paid enough!.”
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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