On Thursday, thousands of Belgian citizens took to the streets to protest the government’s proposed pension reform. The strike, which began that day, resulted in a complete halt of air traffic across the country.
According to Reuters, 430 flights were canceled at Brussels Airport. However, an airport spokesperson stated that the disruptions in air traffic would last only one day. Protesters held banners with slogans such as “We are not lemons,” as well as signs with Latin phrases— a reference to the new Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s tendency to use Latin whenever possible.
The strike is also expected to affect public transportation and postal services. Firefighters and military personnel have joined the protests as well.
The core of the reform is to encourage people to continue working after reaching retirement age, provided they have at least 35 years of work experience. Those who do not meet this requirement may face financial penalties if they choose early retirement. The new system is less favorable for low-income individuals compared to the previous one, which included a lump-sum payment based on years of service.
The Belgian government, led by Bart De Wever, took office on February 3, nearly eight months after the parliamentary elections. The new cabinet was formed as a coalition of five parties, including the French-speaking centrist parties Les Engagés and MR, as well as the Flemish CD&V, Vooruit, and N-VA. An agreement on key socio-economic policies, reached on January 31, paved the way for the government’s formation.
