BRUSSELS, 08 Nov. - (ANA) - DiEM25 has launched an emergency fundraising appeal after losing access to its bank account in Belgium, leaving tens of thousands of euros in members’ donations inaccessible and disrupting its ability to pay essential operating costs.

 

Access was lost on 8 October 2026. When asked, the bank declined to explain its decision, referring only to a contractual clause allowing either party to terminate the banking relationship with three months’ notice. It says it sent a notification letter in advance, but DiEM25 never received that letter at its office. The organisation requested an extension to resolve the situation, which the bank refused.

 

The bank has not cited any specific legal obligation, sanctions regime or compliance concern. The movement is not naming the bank at this stage.

 

Salaries for staff in Belgium, rent for the movement’s Belgian office and Belgian social security contributions are currently going unpaid. These payments cannot be made through the organisation’s available alternative payment channels.

 

DiEM25 also works with 12 people across eight European countries. Recurring donations made by credit card and PayPal remain unaffected, and the movement is seeking an alternative banking provider in Belgium.

 

In response, the movement has launched an emergency appeal to keep its operations active while it works to regain access to its funds and secure alternative banking arrangements.

 

Erik Edman, DiEM25’s spokesperson and Political Director, said:

 

“Whatever the bank’s reasons, and whether or not it acted within its contractual rights, the democratic consequences are serious. We cannot access the donations that pay our team and keep our office open. That puts our ability to organise, campaign and speak freely at risk.

 

“This is especially serious for movements like ours, funded exclusively by individual donations. That independence allows people to build political organisations that answer to them, without depending on wealthy donors or corporate sponsors.

 

As banking exclusion becomes normalised, we risk losing independent voices on the issues that affect everyday people. Politics becomes even more dominated by those with money and powerful connections.”

 

Through its contacts with other progressive organisations in Belgium, DiEM25 has become aware of other reported account closures and restrictions on banking services. The movement cannot establish whether its own account was closed because of its political activities, but believes the consequences for democratic participation warrant scrutiny.

 

DiEM25 is calling on Belgian and European institutions to strengthen,enforce, and streamline safeguards, including meaningful explanations wherever legally possible, adequate notice, rapid independent appeals and effective access to basic banking for political and civil society organisations carrying out lawful activities.   - (ANA) - 

 

AB/ANA/08 November 2026 - - -