ManiFiesta 2025 was: great vibes, talented musicians and artists, exciting speakers from all over the world, Belgium's biggest left-wing book fair, an international trade union village, a sparkling PioFiesta for our youngest revellers, the best food from different countries, MundoFiesta bringing together all those who stand up for international solidarity and against imperialism and also sports and games for young and old. But above all, ManiFiesta is the festival with the best festival-goers!

After Venezuela, Trump, Rubio and the US government are turning to their next target: Cuba.

Thirteen days of nationwide action took place against the 'Arizona' government named after the colours of the Arizona state flag, symbolising the 5 parties in the coalition government: N-VA (Flemish right-wing nationalist party), CD&V (Flemish Christian democrat party), Vooruit (Flemish socialist party), MR (French-speaking liberal party) and Les Engagés (French-speaking Christian democrat party). At the heart of many of these mobilisations is the fight against plans to dismantle our pension scheme. Under pressure from below, the government had to review its reform. The pension malus1 and the tougher conditions for early retirement have been mitigated. As a result, the impact of these measures has been reduced by around a quarter. The figures we requested from Pensions Minister Jan Jambon clearly show that the social struggle is paying off.

Washington snatched a president from his palace - no, this didn't happen on a movie set, but in a sovereign country. A brutality that betrays both fear and weakness. Fear: they are afraid China is strengthening its control over Latin America. Weakness: those who can no longer impose their will through diplomatic measures, resort to kidnapping as a geopolitical tool.

Peter Mertens, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PVDA-PTB), tells Peoples Dispatch that 2026 brings opportunities for class struggle – if the left is ready to act boldly. December 25, 2025 by Ana Vračar

Here's to a heartwarming and rebellious 2026!