25 May 2019 | 01:59 AM UTC
Belgium: "Yellow vest" protest in Brussels May 26 /update 6
“Yellow vest” protest planned in Brussels on May 26; heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions expected surrounding demonstration sites
Event
"Yellow vest" protesters have announced demonstrations in Brussels scheduled on Sunday, May 26. Protesters are expected to gather at Bruxelles-Nord station at 13:00 (local time). Further details on a potential protest march were not immediately released.
Localized transportation disruptions, along with a heightened security presence, are to be expected near demonstration sites. Clashes between protesters and police forces cannot be ruled out.
Context
The "yellow vest" movement began in France on November 17, 2018, to protest rising fuel prices and a planned fuel tax. It has since grown to encompass a number of popular grievances against the French government. Some protests have turned violent and acts of vandalism and looting have been reported, although the scale of the protests has diminished since their height in December. Demonstrations have continued despite French government proposals to address protesters' concerns. President Emmanuel Macron announced a series of reforms on April 25, including closing corporate tax loopholes, income tax cuts, linking pensions to inflation by 2020, and reforms to referendum processes, among others.
Advice
Individuals in Belgium, and particularly those in Brussels, are advised to follow all instructions issued by local authorities, budget extra time to reach their destinations, and avoid all protests as a precaution.
