Charles Michel
Charles Michel laughed off the incident after he was pelted with chips by protesters. AFP / Getty Images

Belgium's prime minister was pelted with chips and squirted with mayonnaise while speaking at a public event.

Charles Michel was a guest speaker at the business event in the southern city of Namur when four female activists began shouting "Michel get out, austerity get out".

Rushing forward they hurled chips at the 39-year-old while others squirted him with mayonnaise.

After the chip attack, the women, who were wearing masks, walked out leaving a bewildered Mr Michel standing.

Charles Michel
Belgium's PM was squirted with mayonaise while speaking at a business event. AFP / Getty Images

He was briefly led out to a side room to clean up before returning to continue his speech. He began again by apologising to the audience "that I smell of mayonnaise".

Michel took office in October, heading a coalition that intends to raise the retirement age to 67 and introduce cuts in the public sector.

The controversial plans have sparked strikes and demonstrations across Brussels which ended in violent protests that left dozens of police officers injured.

Mr Michel's spokesman said he would not press charges over the incident.