Up to 100,000 people took to Brussels streets to protest against pension cuts
People held a mass rally in the Belgian capital against the authorities’ plans to cut the budget for social benefits and pensions by a total of 3bn Euros per year, TASS reports
The action was organised by the country’s three leading trade unions linked to the main political forces of the kingdom: socialists, Liberals and Christian Democrats. The organisers estimate that up to 100,000 people took part in the rally. Law enforcement agencies have not yet provided official data on the number of demonstrators.
Most protesters were wearing solid-coloured red, yellow, blue and green jackets. These colours symbolise the trade unions or social movements to which the protesters belong. Demonstrators started marching from the Central Station and were heading towards the Palace of Justice. They carried banners, balloons and flip flops on long poles in the shape of road signs. On one side there was the number 67 in a crossed-out red circle, and on the other side there was 65, symbolising the protest against raising the retirement age to 67.
Along the route of the column of protesters, powerful sound installations were set up, music was played and calls to ‘fight for your rights’ were heard.
