Ten days after its formation, the Belgian government is already having to deal with large protests and strikes. Police said around 60,000 people took to the streets of Brussels on Thursday to oppose the new government's right-wing turn and defend public services.

Tens of thousands of Belgians took to the streets on Thursday in protest over the new government's planned pension reforms, during the first day of a multi-day strike that halted all air traffic in the country.

With its new government, Belgium joins a growing list of European countries led by nationalist forces such as Meloni's Italy and Orban's Hungary.

No fewer than 60,000 people on Thursday stormed central Brussels, Belgium, to protest planned government reforms, as unions warned of further strike action unless policymakers reconsider their proposals.