Thousands took to the streets in Brussels on Friday to demand a freeze on spiking energy prices, and better pay amid high inflation in Belgium and the EU.
Temperatures in the Belgian capital fell below zero Celsius on the day, but the rally still attracted more than 16,500 people, according to police.
The action was supported by leading trade unions, disrupting public services and transport systems in Brussels and elsewhere across the country. The capital’s airport said that some flights had to be canceled.
The unions believe that Belgian authorities should follow the example of neighboring France and cap energy prices. A joint statement declared that protests will continue until workers’ demands are met.
“Thousands of people are sending a clear message to the government: things can’t go on like this,” leader of the Workers’ Party of Belgium Hedebouw Raoul insisted.
Gas and electricity prices have surged in Europe as the economic strain caused by Covid-19 was further aggravated by the fallout of EU sanctions on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine and the subsequent reduction of Russian energy supplies to the bloc.
Last month, Belgium’s headline inflation figure reached 10.63%, while consumer inflation within the euro zone as a whole stood at around 10%.