On February 3, 2025, the 'Arizona' government was sworn in. Since then, it has been trying by all means to make everyone work longer, for less money, among other austerity measures. But it is facing sustained resistance. The social movement is holding firm against the intensified attacks of the De Wever-Bouchez government. With, this May 12, already the 15th national mobilization. 75,000 people filled the streets of Brussels: public and private sector workers, metalworkers, healthcare workers, teachers, public service employees, charity workers, cultural sector workers, youth, feminist, democratic, and peace movements.

Interview with Peter Mertens on the current wave of large-scale social protests in Belgium, the link between social cuts and militarization in Europe, and the fight for alternatives.

Speech by Peter Mertens, general secretary of the PVDA-PTB, at the public event of the 8th congress of the European Left held in Brussels on 18 April, which brought together 40 European parties to fight against austerity, to stop militarisation and to win the future.

War and the militarisation of society, rising energy prices and industrial crisis: Europe is at a crossroads. On 17 and 18 April, Brussels hosted the congress of the European Left. 106 delegates from all over Europe came together to develop a common response to the situation and decide on guidelines for the next three years. The PVDA-PTB became a member of the European Left in 2025, and has since played an active role.

As US and Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate Iran, Peter Mertens, PVDA-PTB's General Secretary, sat down with Mohammad Omidvar, spokesperson of the Tudeh Party of Iran - the country's oldest left-wing opposition party, founded in 1941 - to discuss the ongoing crisis from a progressive Iranian perspective.

Gas prices are going through the roof because of a dirty and illegal war waged by Trump and Netanyahu. Ordinary people will foot the bill through their heating costs or at the pump.

The attitude of European leaders towards the attack by the United States and Israel on Iran is shocking. Neither Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, nor Kaja Kallas, the EU's "Foreign Minister", nor most European or Belgian leaders have condemned the attack. On the contrary, they have condemned Iran's response. A joint statement by the French, German and British governments even suggests that the Europeans would like to join this war of aggression in order to defend "their allies".

A European industry summit attended by 600 CEOs, an informal summit of heads of state devoted to "competitiveness", a declaration by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Davos, and repeated outings by prime minister Bart De Wever... European leaders and "captains" of industry are using the industrial crisis to impose their agenda, without even a democratic debate.

Are you an optimist? That's the question Anne Delespaul and Benjamin Pestieau - member of the direction of PVDA-PTB, were asked during the Karl Marx School organized by Comac, the PTB's student movement. "Optimism is not primarily a 'state' but a struggle,". Benjamin comes back to some of the points made.