Tens of thousands march against Belgian austerity reforms

Tens of thousands of people thronged the streets of Brussels on Thursday in the latest mass protest against austerity reforms brought in by Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s conservative government.

Police said the march drew 80,000 people – matching the turnout at the last such demonstration in October – while unions put the figure at more than 100,000.

Public transport and government services were also widely disrupted by strike action, with Belgium’s two main airports cancelling all scheduled departures due to a shortage of security staff and baggage handlers.

Belgian unions have been mobilised since De Wever took office early last year against government reforms to the pension and unemployment systems.

“This shows people are strongly determined, but also that they are anxious about the geopolitical situation,” Marie-Helene Ska, secretary-general of the Christian CSC, one of three unions that called the day of action, told AFP.

“It shows that making ends meet is going…