Prison guards visit prime minister Michel's home

About 20 disgruntled Belgian prison guards this morning gathered outside the private residence of prime minister Charles Michel in Wavre, and rang the bell at 6.00. The prime minister regrets the action, which frightened his wife and baby daughter, writes De Standaard.

According to a union source, the guards arrived in front of Michel's home around 5:30. "We waited until 6.00 to ring the bell. His wife opened the door and said he was not there," according to an ACV-CSC representative.

The majority of the prison guards come from the prison of Namur, where a strike has been going on for weeks under the French-speaking trade unions CGSP and ACV-CSC. They left the scene around 7.30, but promised to return until Charles Michel is prepared to meet with them.

A spokesperson of the prime minister said that Michel is willing to receive a delegation of the guards at his office, but that the negotiations are over.

The strike continues in the prisons of Lantin, Andenne, Namur, Mons and Tournai, although some prison guards have decided to partially resume work.