Belgian police use tear gas against cost-of-living protesters

Police in Belgium responded to cost-of-living protests in major cities over the weekend with tear gas as crowds took to the streets to voice their economic grievances. Demonstrators assembled in the capital Brussels and the eastern city of Liège as part of broader discontent sweeping across Western Europe over inflation and stagnant wages.

The protests in Belgium mirrored escalating tensions seen recently in France, where similar demonstrations have turned violent. Organisers and participants expressed alarm over household expenses, energy costs, and purchasing power erosion affecting ordinary citizens across the region.

The deployment of tear gas by Belgian authorities underscored the volatile nature of the gatherings, though specific casualty figures and arrest numbers were not immediately available. The demonstrations reflect growing public anxiety across Europe as consumers grapple with elevated costs for essential goods and services amid economic uncertainty.