Liege, Belgium – Belgian authorities have detained over 100 individuals following demonstrations in the city of Liege that turned violent at times, as students protest worsening conditions within the French-language education system. The unrest mirrors similar anti-government actions unfolding across neighboring France.
According to the Belga news agency, citing police reports, 80 people were detained during the Tuesday and Wednesday rallies, with 27 formally arrested. Law enforcement noted that some demonstrators engaged in property damage and set fires. Despite the chaos, attendees maintained that systemic failures left them with no alternative but to take to the streets.
“When we saw nothing was changing without protests, we decided we would start,” said Amelia Di Salve, a 19-year-old aspiring teacher. She acknowledged that the ongoing protests in France had influenced their decision to mobilize. Alfred, another 19-year-old participant, told Reuters that students are united by shared grievances.
Local officials are working to de-escalate the situation. Willy Demeyer, the mayor of Liege, expressed hope that young people could voice their concerns peacefully. “Dialogue can be established,” Demeyer told Belgian broadcaster RTBF.
The protests stem from long-standing issues regarding overcrowded classrooms and limited access to resources. In Belgium, education policy is divided along linguistic lines: the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders manages its own curriculum, while the French-speaking community of Wallonia oversees its own system. In the bilingual capital, Brussels, parents choose between the two systems.
Tensions have been particularly high in recent months following an increase in tuition fees for students in French-speaking areas, which rose from 835 euros ($930) to 1,194 euros ($1,340). These changes come amid a broader cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy prices, pressures that are also fueling student unrest in France.
Leave a Reply