Belgians stage mass protest against austerity measures

France 24 

Tens of thousands of Belgians marched on central Brussels Friday, protesting against austerity measures flagged by the incoming government. The measures could include cuts to unemployment benefits and limits on early retirement. 

Leaders of unions, which organised the demonstrations, said more than 50,000 people had gathered on a mild but damp morning in the Belgian capital. Police said it was too early to give an estimate on the numbers attending.

Belgians face cuts to unemployment benefit, limits on early retirement and spending reduced or frozen in the public sector.

“This is a demonstration by workers against austerity measures which are blind. We have been given a budget which is unfortunately not balanced,” said Bernard Noel, national secretary of the CGSLB union.

The demonstration included metal workers, public service employees, workers from the brewing industry, builders and teachers, most dressed in green, red or blue, the colours of the three main unions in Belgium.

“The austerity should be paid by those who created it, the banks, the financiers,” said Pierre Dellamaria, a 43-year-old laboratory technician.

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