Bodson et al. v. Belgium: A blow to organised activism

This case raises fundamental questions about the future of the right to strike and the boundaries of lawful collective action in democratic societies. If the trend continues, trade unions and social movements may be compelled to reassess their strategies, navigating a legal landscape where disruptive protest increasingly carries the risk of criminal prosecution. By prioritising public order over the substantive exercise of collective rights, the ECtHR has tilted the balance away from democratic pluralism toward a more restrictive model of permissible dissent. This ruling undeniably signals a tightening of the legal noose around militant activism in Europe.