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Anti-government protest halts air traffic in Belgium
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
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Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Belgium's air traffic was disrupted as thousands protested against new pension reforms. The strike, affecting flights and public services, highlights discontent with the government's policies.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Thousands of Belgians took to the streets on Thursday in protest over the new government's planned pension reforms in the first day of a multi-day strike that halted all air traffic in the country.
Brussels airport canceled 430 flights on Thursday, a spokesperson said, adding that the disruption to the air traffic sector would last just one day.
Protesters held signs with slogans such as "We're not lemons," and some displayed plaques featuring Latin phrases, a nod to new Prime Minister Bart De Wever's tendency to include Latin quotes whenever possible.
The strike was also expected to disrupt public transport and postal services, with firefighters and military personnel joining the protests as well.
The planned pension reform rewards those who work past retirement age with 35 years of service, while early retirees without 35 years face a penalty. The new system is less favorable for lower-income earners compared to the previous one, which provided a lump sum based on career length.
Flemish nationalist Bart De Wever's government was sworn in on Feb. 3, after eight months of negotiations that resulted in a five-party coalition including right-wing, centrist, and socialist party, Vooruit.
The socialist union had warned that a strike would be called if Vooruit joined the predominantly center-right government.
(Editing by Bernadette Baum)
The main topic is the protest in Belgium against the government's pension reforms, which halted air traffic.
Protests occurred due to dissatisfaction with the new pension reforms, which are less favorable for lower-income earners.
Bart De Wever is the new Prime Minister of Belgium, whose government introduced the controversial pension reforms.
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