International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

After three days of strike, a vast social movement with no political alternative

Mateo Alaluf — 2025-12-17T08:56:25Z

Belgium experienced a crescendo of strikes on Monday 24 November in public transport (trains, buses, trams, metros), Tuesday 25 November in all public services (including education and hospitals) and Wednesday 26 November, with the addition of the private sector, a day long interprofessional general strike that was widely followed in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.

- IVP611 - December 2025 / Belgium, Trade unions/workplace organizing

Memories of Gilbert Leclercq

Daniel Tanuro, Gilbert Leclercq — 2025-12-11T11:56:20Z

“Gilbert's commitment was the antithesis of sectarianism. For several years, he had systematically drawn attention to the urgent need for unity in anti-capitalist action in the face of the danger of the far right exploiting social frustrations within the working class itself in order to recruit disaffected elements to the service of reaction. Denouncing electoral illusions, he tirelessly advocated a united front, "the only way to ensure the mobilization of all those called upon to fight if they wish to live with dignity, freedom, and protection from abject poverty." ”

- In Memoriam - Obituaries and appreciations / Belgium, Obituary, Fourth International

Fighting side by side from Kyiv to Panama: A look back at the 2025 International Youth Camp

Collective — 2025-08-12T10:56:09Z

“The last bus awaits in the camp's parking lot. Young people, most of whom didn't know each other a week before, exchange phone numbers, social media, and hugs. Here and there, tears flow, as if to prolong the downpours that punctuated the week.”

- IVP607 - August 2025 / Youth camp, Belgium, Fourth International

Fabian, 11-years-old, dead: this was no accident - this is the police

Elena Fernandez Fernandez — 2025-06-05T13:08:14Z

On Monday afternoon, 2 June, in Elisabeth Park in Ganshoren, an 11-year-old child was struck and killed by a police vehicle. Another one. Once again, a young person has lost their life in a police operation. Once again, run over by a police officer. And once again, the institutions react coldly, relaying a version of events that incriminates the victim, while those responsible hide behind complicit investigations that generally lead nowhere.

- IVP605 - June 2025 / Belgium

Hendrik “Pips” Patroons, comrade and friend

Alain Tondeur — 2025-04-29T09:24:09Z

Our comrade Hendrik Patroons, alias “Pips”, passed away in Ghent on April 17, 2025. He was active from an early age in SAP-Antikapitalisten (our organization in Flanders, then called Revolutionaire Arbeiders Liga) and the Fourth International. A convinced revolutionary right up to his last days, he and his companion Marijke Colle left a lasting mark on the organization. He took part in our last national congress in December 2024, and had volunteered to be part of the technical support team for the 18th World Congress of the Fourth International in February 2025, but was unable to do so due to illness. We publish below the tribute paid to him by Alain Tondeur at the funeral ceremony in Wondelgem, near Ghent, on April 25.

- In Memoriam - Obituaries and appreciations / Belgium, Obituary, Fourth International

For an anti-capitalist and internationalist security policy, against the Trump-Musk-Putin axis and neoliberal authoritarian European governments:

Gauche anticapitaliste/SAP Antikapitalisten — 2025-04-10T16:01:14Z

“In this context, the debate on security, military and defence issues has gripped all the countries of Europe. Putin's regime poses a real threat to Eastern Europe and to democratic and social rights across the continent, through its alliances with the far right. Similarly, Trump, Musk and Vance, like the far right in Europe and elsewhere, are showing their willingness to attack head-on any social and progressive policy, however minimal, such as environmental regulations, the fight against discrimination or workers' social and trade union rights.”

- Rearming Europe / Europe, Belgium, War drive/Anti-war movements

Between an upsurge in mobilisation and a retreat in feminist strikes, how can we organise to win?

Féministes anticapitalistes — 2025-03-28T07:55:41Z

This year's feminist demonstration in Brussels, Belgium on 8 March 2025 was once again a great success. Although the press only reported the police estimate (10,000 people), the reality must have been closer to the turnout for the trade union demonstration on 13 January (30,000 people), as the loop around the central station was quickly saturated. The Belgian feminist movement is thus demonstrating that it is still a mobilising force following its revival over the last seven years.

- IVP602 - March 2025 / Belgium, Women

Belgium: First mass mobilisation against the federal government

Mélodie Vandelook — 2025-03-04T07:15:59Z

After eight months of negotiations and political theatre in Belgium, the new federal coalition (N-VA, MR, Les Engagés, CD&V and Vooruit), which ranges from the right to the social liberals via the Christian Democrats and is called ‘Arizona' because of the political colours of the parties that make it up, finalised its government agreement at the end of January, with the blessing of the employers. Its programme constitutes a major anti-social offensive and is already meeting with significant resistance from the population.

- IVP602 - March 2025 / Belgium

Belgium: Massive demonstration against the federal government

LCR-SAP — 2025-02-16T09:37:36Z

On Thursday 13 February, 2025, 100,000 people marched through the streets of Brussels in response to a call from the trade union common front: a multitude of sectors (trade unions, feminists, anti-fascists, among many others) mobilised against the all-out attacks by the new federal government, the “Arizona coalition” which has been in power in Belgium since the beginning of February. This remarkable turnout represents a real acceleration in social tension. The Gauche anticapitaliste (Belgian section of the Fourth International ) was present and marched with Commune Colère, a unitary pole bringing together workers from many backgrounds (trade union left, feminist, anti-racist and anti-fascist collectives, environmental activists and so on), whose bloc brought together several hundred people around combative slogans.

- IVP601- February 2025 / Belgium

In memory of Patrice Lumumba, assassinated on 17 January 1961

Éric Toussaint — 2025-01-27T21:19:11Z

On 17 January 2025, we commemorate the 64th anniversary of the assassination of Patrice Lumumba (1925-1961).

- Features / Belgium, Historical events and figures, Debt, Congo, Imperialism