A controversial article, part of a reform adopted earlier this year, is perceived as a threat to the right to strike and other forms of protest.

The coalition 'Droit de protester', which includes major unions like CSC, FGTB, and CGSLB, along with organizations such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, argues that the article is vague and undermines the principle of legality.

This article defines malicious acts against the authority of the state as public actions that provoke disobedience to laws related to national security, public health, or morality.

In response to these concerns, three unions and several NGOs have approached the Constitutional Court to challenge the legality of Article 547 of the Penal Code.

The decision from the Constitutional Court is particularly significant as Belgium is currently in negotiations to form a new center-right federal majority.

The reform has raised alarms about the potential criminalization of peaceful protests, as it penalizes actions deemed to maliciously undermine state authority.

Previously, the coalition mobilized against the article, leading political parties PS and Ecolo to seek clarifications, yet unions and NGOs remain dissatisfied with the legislative changes.