Key facts
- Belgium's public sector was partially shut down on Monday due to a nationwide strike.
- Unions are protesting planned government budget cuts.
- Rail services, public transport, public broadcasting, and schools were affected.
- Coalition partners have failed to reach an agreement on a new federal budget.
- Prime Minister Bart De Wever canceled his planned State of the Union address.
Belgium's public sector faced a partial shutdown on Monday as unions initiated a second day of nationwide strike action against planned government budget cuts. The industrial action disrupted key public services across the country, including rail services, public transport, public broadcasting, and schools.
The strike comes as Flemish right-wing leader Bart De Wever, the Prime Minister, faces mounting political pressure over delayed budget negotiations. Over the weekend, his office stated that coalition partners had failed to reach an agreement on a new federal budget, forcing De Wever to cancel his planned State of the Union address to parliament on Tuesday while talks continue.
De Wever had previously warned on Thursday that "painful budget measures were needed now to avert a looming debt and interest-cost spiral that would otherwise leave future generations with a heavy bill." Belgian media reported that the budget deal could be delayed to late October or early November, and that a prolonged deadlock could strain the coalition's cohesion. Monday's strike followed an initial mass protest in Brussels on Friday, which saw a small group clash with police.