Joint union front
National demonstration Monday 23 November, Brussels
- When
- Monday 23 November 2026. The time has not been announced yet.
- Where
- Brussels. The starting point has not been announced yet.
- Who
- Belgium's three main unions, in a joint front: FGTB/ABVV, CSC/ACV and Synova
- Why
- Against austerity policy and falling purchasing power, according to the organisers
Announced on 21 October 2026, according to The Brussels Times and VRT NWS (in Dutch): check the time and place on the unions' websites before you set off.
This page does not take sides: it sets out each side's arguments, the figures and their sources.
01Why this demonstration?
The unions are protesting against the cuts being prepared by governments, according to their call of 21 October (in French). Here is what they want, and the federal government's arguments.
What the unions want
The FGTB, the CSC and Synova:
- refuse to let the cost of balancing public finances fall on workers, benefit recipients and public services;
- defend “our social security, our pensions, our public services, our education” and purchasing power;
- propose an alternative budget of €21 billion: fairer taxation, action against fraud and a contribution from income from capital;
- call for a broad mobilisation: health insurance funds, anti-poverty groups, youth organisations, students, pensioners.
The government's arguments
Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N‑VA), for the federal government:
- Public finances are deteriorating: the coalition has committed to finding €10 billion in savings by 2029.
- “We risk seeing a snowball effect on interest by 2029”: without savings, the cost of debt could spiral.
- He points to the National Bank and the Debt Agency, which have also warned the government of this risk.
In mid-October 2026, the 2027 federal budget was still being negotiated. The €21 billion figure comes from the unions themselves.
02The figures
- €10 billionin savings the federal government wants to find by 2029
- €21 billionthe alternative budget calculated by the unions
- 30,000demonstrators on 9 October according to the police, 50,000 according to the unions
03The 9 October demonstration
On 9 October 2026, the FGTB and the CSC already demonstrated in Brussels against austerity. The police counted about 30,000 people, the unions 50,000, according to VRT NWS (in Dutch). On the fringes of the march, vehicles were set on fire or damaged near Brussels-South station, and around twenty people, most of them minors, were detained, according to AFP (in French).
Before you go: Demonstrating, the basics.
A week earlier, on 17 November, students are demonstrating in Brussels against the tuition fee increase: all about 17 November.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these sources. Spotted a mistake? Our About page explains how to tell us.
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- CSC/ACV union: “See you in Brussels on 23 November” (press release, 21 October 2026) (in French)
- ACV union: the unions' alternative budget (in Dutch)
- La Libre: the three main unions announce a new joint demonstration (in French)
- L'Avenir: new national demonstration planned on 23 November (in French)
- RTBF: the three unions call for a new national demonstration (in French)
- VRT NWS: new national demonstration on 23 November (in Dutch)
- Bruzz: Brussels to host another national demonstration on 23 November (in Dutch)
- The Brussels Times: new ‘major’ national demonstration in Brussels on 23 November
- La Libre: Bart De Wever and the risk of a “snowball effect” on interest by 2029 (in French)
- La Libre: Bart De Wever tables a new federal budget proposal (in French)
- Paris Match Belgium: the warning from the National Bank and the Debt Agency (in French)
- AFP (via Fortuneo): the 9 October demonstration, marked by violence on the fringes (in French)