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Belgian National Strike disrupts Schools, Flights and Public Transport

On Wednesday, the third and final day in a Belgian national strike, most flights were grounded at Brussels Airport. Public transport was also disrupted.

The latest protest against the coalition led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever is the strike organised by the main unions in the country. Demonstrators are against the proposed reforms to the labour market and pensions by the government.

Brussels Airport has cancelled 110 outgoing flights and all 203 planned inbound flights.

Charleroi Airport, Belgium's second largest airport, said on its website it expected a significant amount of disruptions due to staff shortages. It would also be unable guarantee scheduled landings or takeoffs.

Local media reported the final day would be the most disruptive, with disruptions to schools, public transportation, and private sector.

On Wednesday, a protest will be held in Brussels. Around 80,000 people attended a similar protest in October.

The socialist union ABVV-FGTB posted a statement on its website that said, "The budget message of the De Wever Government is harsh: Work longer and harder to get less security in terms of pensions and health care and less purchasing power."

Gert Truyens of the ACLVB, the liberal union in Belgium, said to the Belgian broadcaster VRT that he regretted the fact that the national government had not consulted the unions.

Truyens stated that "agreements aren't made on the street at picket lines, they happen at the negotiation table. But you have to be given a chance."

The strike will still take place despite the fact that the government has reached a budget agreement for next year after months of intense negotiations.

The government is planning to increase taxes on airline tickets, natural gas and bank deposits. This, along with spending cuts, should reduce the deficit of the government by 9,2 billion euros (10.6 billion dollars) by 2029.

According to the central banks, the budget deficit for the sixth largest economy in the eurozone is expected to reach 4.5% of its gross domestic product, and the debt will be 104.7%. This is well above the EU budget rules' maximum limit. (Reporting and editing by Alison Williams; Additional reporting by Alessandro Parodi)

(source: Reuters)