by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Belgium’s interior minister has called for the immediate arrest of masked protesters following violent clashes in Brussels, where demonstrations against government budget cuts were overshadowed by unrest and eight detained youths were released because juvenile detention facilities were full.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said Sunday that police should arrest masked protesters before violence erupts. “Walking around masked is illegal,” he told broadcaster VTM NIEUWS.
His comments followed Friday’s demonstrations in the Belgian capital, where tens of thousands protested against austerity measures planned by Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s federal government.
Police estimated that about 30,000 people participated, while trade unions put attendance at approximately 50,000.
THOUSANDS PROTEST CUTS
The demonstrations were organized by Belgium’s two largest trade unions, the socialist FGTB/ABVV and Christian CSC/ACV, amid concerns about proposed changes to wages, pensions, working conditions and public spending.
Union leaders warned that changes to Belgium’s automatic wage-indexation system could undermine purchasing power, while possible tax increases and spending cuts could place additional pressure on workers and lower-income households.
The government has defended its efforts to reduce Belgium’s budget deficit and growing debt, arguing that painful financial decisions are necessary to prevent future generations from facing an even heavier burden.
Although the main trade union march remained peaceful, violence erupted on its sidelines as groups of masked youths confronted police near railway stations and other locations in Brussels.
VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN BRUSSELS
Protesters threw stones, bottles and fireworks at officers, set fires and damaged property, prompting police to deploy water cannon and tear gas, according to witnesses and video footage.
The disturbances disrupted parts of the Belgian capital, which also hosts the headquarters of the European Union and the NATO military alliance. The wider strike affected public transport, air travel, schools and childcare facilities.
Authorities reported more than 100 detentions during the unrest, including administrative detentions and arrests linked to suspected criminal offenses.
The controversy deepened Sunday after prosecutors confirmed that eight of 16 detained minors could not be placed in youth protection institutions because no places were available.
SEVERAL YOUTHS RELEASED
Among those released was a 16-year-old boy allegedly found in possession of ready-to-use Molotov cocktails. Another teenager was accused of throwing electric scooters onto a burning barricade.
Quintin called the situation “unbelievable” and warned that releasing suspects because of insufficient detention capacity risked reinforcing a sense of impunity.
The minister stressed that decisions had already been made to create additional places in juvenile detention institutions and urged authorities to make them available without further delay.
Yet he also said that responsibility for policing demonstrations rests primarily with local police forces and municipal mayors, with federal officers providing support.
WIDER POLITICAL PRESSURES
Quintin’s demand for earlier intervention comes amid questions about how Belgian authorities should balance public security with the right to peaceful assembly.
Police and trade union representatives stressed that those responsible for the violence were not connected to the main demonstration, which passed off peacefully.
The unrest comes as Belgium also faces contentious migration and asylum policies, with De Wever’s government seeking tighter immigration rules and reductions in asylum reception spending as part of broader efforts to control public finances.
Student protests in neighboring France have also helped inspire demonstrations in Belgium’s French-speaking regions, where young people have expressed concerns about education cuts, overcrowded classrooms and rising tuition fees.
MORE PROTESTS POSSIBLE
Belgian trade unions have warned of a possible general strike during the week of November 23 if the government proceeds with measures affecting wage indexation, value-added tax or working hours.
De Wever’s administration faces pressure to bring public finances under control while responding to concerns about living costs, employment conditions and public services.
This weekend’s confrontation highlighted growing uncertainty over household finances within Belgian families, while the violence and release of young suspects raised questions about the country’s policing and juvenile justice system.
The government faces the challenge of addressing the economic grievances driving the demonstrations while preventing further unrest.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
