BRUSSELS, Oct 12 (Reuters) – Belgium’s public sector was partially shut down on Monday as unions staged a second day of nationwide strike action against planned government budget cuts, amid mounting political pressure on Prime Minister Bart De Wever over a stalled budget agreement.
• Monday’s strike followed an initial mass protest of thousands of protesters in Brussels on Friday that ended with a small group clashing with police
• While no large-scale demonstration was planned in the capital on Monday, the strike disrupted key public services across Belgium
• Rail services, public transport, public broadcasting and schools were all affected as public sector workers protested against government plans
• The action comes as Flemish right-wing leader De Wever faces growing pressure over delayed budget negotiations
• Over the weekend, the prime minister’s office said coalition partners had failed to reach agreement on a new federal budget, forcing De Wever to cancel his planned State of the Union address to parliament on Tuesday while talks continue
• De Wever said on Thursday that painful budget measures were needed now to avert a looming debt and interest-cost spiral that would otherwise leave future generations with a heavy bill
• Belgian media reported that the budget deal could be delayed to late October or early November and that a prolonged deadlock could put the coalition’s cohesion under strain
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
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