Majority of Belgians support army presence on streets

Two-thirds of Belgians are in favour of the military remaining on the streets and outside public buildings "to protect the population", a new country-wide poll has found.

Army presence in public places received 69% support in Wallonia, 67% in Brussels and 64% in Flanders. The findings are the first in a new series of political polls crossing the language divide, jointly commissioned by the French-speaking RTBF and La Libre Belgique and the Dutch-language VRT and De Standaard.

Socialist voters were most in support of the ongoing use of soldiers to patrol the streets. Over-55s were the age group most in favour. The findings are based on telephone interviews with almost 3,000 people across Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels region.

Army general-major Marc Thys said in August that military patrols were likely to remain in the streets and stations of Brussels until at least 2020. There is no likelihood of the terrorist threat being reduced in the near future, according to the army.

In an anonymous interview conducted by De Standaard newspaper earlier this month, a soldier said he and his colleagues were tired of patrolling Brussels' streets, stations and public events.

"It’s lasted way too long," the soldier said. "The army should be seen as the last resort for a country. If it becomes normal, you don’t have a last resort."