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As it happened: 80,000 join anti-austerity march through Brussels

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Belgium
07:34 07/10/2015

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the street of Brussels on Wednesday for a march against the policies of the Charles Michel government, exactly a year since the Belgian prime minister took office. The march set off from the Gare du Nord after 11.00 and headed towards the Gare du Midi.

The march was timed to coincide with the first anniversary in office for Belgium's prime minister Charles Michel, and saw union members from across the country converge on the capital.

The last major protest against Belgian government policy was on November 6, 2014, when an estimated 100,000 demonstrators took part.

Here is our round-up of what happened.

Photos above courtesy of Kenneth Curmi

7.00: School's out?

Parents can still drop their children off at crèche or school today - but don't expect a normal day of lessons. Eugène Ernst from teachers' union CSC tells Le Soir:

"Several thousand teachers are coming to the demo in Brussels. Some schools could have no teaching staff at all, while others will be very disrupted. We're expecting picket lines. Management have to make sure that all pupils who turn up are looked after."

7.10: Why are they protesting?

Alan Hope, writing in Flanders Today, explains:

Unions are demonstrating against government spending cuts and said they expected a major turnout for the march. They are demanding a restoration of purchasing power for workers and those on benefits, a shift of taxation onto those with major assets and investment income and a jobs plan with special attention to vulnerable groups.

7.20: Trains are normal

The SNCB says trains should be running normally. Better than usual, in fact. The rail operator has put on seven extra trains to get demonstrators from Namur, Mons, Charleroi, Liège, La Louvière, Antwerp and Ostend to the Brussels march (and back). Make the most of it though, as there is a national rail strike planned for this Friday.
Access to Brussels central station will be difficult between 12.00 and 17.00 as our reporter Robyn Boyle explains here.
The De Lijn transport hub at Gare du Nord will not operate between 9.00 and 13.00, and no buses will run to Gare du Midi between 13.00 and 17.00.

7.45: Meanwhile, in Wallonia...

The Walloon public transport network, TEC, is announcing major disruption for today. Staff at bus depots in Charleroi, Namur and Liège are taking part in the industrial action. Services in the Brabant Wallon are only partially disrupted.

7.50: Who else?

The post office (Bpost) and Proximus, formerly known as Belgacom, will also have a limited service in place today. Other public services should still be open but with a skeleton staff. A minimum level of service is guaranteed in hospitals.

8.00: The route of the march

With Boulevard Anspach pedestrianised, there's a different route for today's march. The protestors will take the following route: Boulevard Albert II, Boulevard du Jardin Botanique, Boulevards Pachéco, Berlaimont, de l'Imperatrice and de l'Empereur, then Rue des Alexiens and Boulevard Lemonnier. Roads will be closed from 11.00 until at least 15.00 and parked cars will be removed. "Avoid driving in Brussels" is the advice from Bruxelles-Ixelles Police Zone.

8.25 Flanders latest

De Lijn says about two thirds of buses are in service today in Limburg province and the Flemish Brabant. In Antwerp only a third of services are operating. In Mechelen only 15%. There is substantial disruption to public transport in Ghent, Sint-Niklaas and Aalst.

8.30 But what about the Kusttram, you ask?

Half of trams are running along the Belgian coast.

8.45: Today's march

The last big anti-government protest in Brussels was nearly a year ago, when 100,000 people took to the streets on 6 November 2014. Le Soir is reporting that an estimated 70,000 people are expected today.
Taking part are the main unions FGTB, CSC and CGSLB, as well as Socialist and Green opposition politicians and the Federation of Francophone Students. There is also talk of a handful of farmers bringing their tractors to the protests, but nothing like the scenes witnessed in Brussels last month.

8.55: 'Just a warm-up'

Today's demonstration is just the beginning of a lively season of protests running until Christmas, La Capitale reports this morning. The SNCB has already announced a series of regional strike starting in Brussels this Friday, then Liège, Namur, Verviers and Luxembourg province on Monday. There will be no Eurostars serving Brussels this Friday.

10.45 It's getting lively

10.50: STIB update

The following lines are operating at least a 50% service:

Metro 1, 2, 5, 6
Tram 3, 4, 7, 25, 39, 51, 55, 82, 92, 94, 97
Bus 12, 13, 21, 29, 34, 48, 66, 71, 78, 87, 95

Expect disruption to bus routes around the centre of town from now until at least 15.00.

10.55: Road closures

Boulevard du Jardin Botanique is closed. No traffic on the inner ring between Porte d'Anvers and Porte de Schaerbeek.

11.30 Elio's arrived

11.45 Dockers protest

La Libre Belgique says about 200 dock workers from Ghent and Antwerp tried to gather on Rue Royale but were pushed back by police.

12.20 Towards Midi

The front of the procession has reached the Boulevard du Midi. No word yet on number of demonstrators. Mobiris says the Porte de Hal tunnel is closed in the direction of Gare du Midi.

Buses 29 and 66 are not running between Madou and De Brouckère. Bus 71 is curtailed at Porte de Namur.

12.30 Students are taking part in today's protest

12.35 Some attendance figures starting to emerge

A journalist at Le Soir has tweeted that organisers are claiming 80,000 demonstrators and police put the figure somewhere around the 50,000 mark.

12.35 Anneessens metro station has been closed under police orders

13.00 Police say 81,000 demonstrators

VRT's DeRedactie.be is quoting a police estimate of 81,000 demonstrators on the streets of Brussels this afternoon.

13.20 Rogier and Botanique metro stations are back open again

13.30 Official police figure: 80,000

13.35 Boulevard Pachéco has reopened to traffic. Meanwhile, at the Gare du Midi, we've moved on to the speeches part of the day

14.25 Getting rowdy at Gare du Midi

15.15 STIB update

Fewer buses running than in the morning, but metros and trams should be the same as before.

16.00 Thanks for reading

Written by The Bulletin

Comments

Mikek1300gt

The natives are revolting, truly revolting.

Oct 7, 2015 11:48
Mikek1300gt

Don't they have jobs to go to?

Oct 7, 2015 19:01