Protesters taking part in anti-Covid demonstrations are less likely to support a particular political party, and more than 80% are unvaccinated, a study has found.
In recent months, tens of thousands of people have marched in protest against the coronavirus measures in Belgium. Research conducted by scientists affiliated with the University of Antwerp (UAntwerpen) showed that a majority of the demonstrators are politically homeless, meaning they are active in politics but don't necessarily support a particular party.
"The anti-Covid protesters feel politically homeless. 58.7% of the participants state that they cannot identify with any political party," the report stated.
"If they do, they mainly feel connected to the more extreme parties: the far-right Vlaams Belang party (12.1%) and the far-left socialist party PVDA (9.4%)."
The scientists, working for the Research Group M²P, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences of the UAntwerpen, surveyed 223 demonstrators in total during two protests: the Samen voor Vrijheid action on 9 January (5,000 participants) and the Europeans United demonstration on 23 January (some 50,000 participants).
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Overall, more than half (53.3%) of the demonstrators said they did not trust the federal government at all, while a majority (85%) feel most politicians do not take citizens seriously and tend to treat them like children. The trust in the traditional media also takes a beating (64% indicate that they do not trust the traditional media at all).
Almost 80% of participants instead get their Covid-related information from alternative (online) news media, while 68% go to social media for such information. Remarkably, just one-fourth (23.2%) say they have no trust in experts at all.
Most commonly opposed measures
Researchers found that most protesters came out on the streets to voice their concerns about the Covid Safe Ticket (CST) and the discrimination they believe the pass brings with it (94.6% totally disagree with the measure).
Meanwhile, more than 90% of participants were opposed to the compulsory vaccination for health care workers, while almost 89% disagreed with face masks for children.
When it comes to the overall vaccination policy in Belgium, protesters are unanimous about the fact that there is too much pressure on the population to be vaccinated. Many are also sceptical about the vaccine, which is reflected in the low vaccination coverage among attendees (16%).
Anti-Covid demonstrations in Brussels in December last year. Credit: Belga
The vaccination rate was slightly higher during the protest at the end of January (20.8%) than the one on 9 January (12.4%).
"The cumulative nature of the measures and the restrictions on freedom that come with them is also something that worries many demonstrators," the report stated.
Some support could be mustered among demonstrators for teleworking, mandatory face masks for adults and the restricting of social contacts.
