Police Disrupt Hard-Right European Conference in Brussels
A gathering of hard-right, nationalist European politicians in Brussels was abruptly shut down by police on Tuesday, citing public safety concerns. The National Conservatism conference, featuring speakers like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Brexit Party founder Nigel Farage, was interrupted by law enforcement with an order to close the event.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo criticized the move to shut down the conference, which also included French far-right candidate Eric Zemmour and former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The National Conservatives are known for their strong Eurosceptic and anti-immigration stance.
The event had faced difficulties in securing a venue, with two other Brussels locations refusing to host the conference, raising doubts about its continuation. Organizers and attendees criticized the decision to cancel, with Nigel Farage calling it “absolutely outrageous.”
The shutdown comes amidst the upcoming European elections, with polls indicating a rise in support for hard-right and Eurosceptic parties. Organizers are now looking for an alternative venue to continue the conference on Wednesday.
Despite the police intervention, organizers defended the event as peaceful and extended an invitation to the mayor who ordered its cancellation. Criticism of the authorities’ move came from Belgian MEP Tom Vandendriessche, who accused the left of trying to intimidate the right in Belgium.
Viktor Orbán also condemned the police’s actions, stating that they were stifling free speech. The incident has sparked debate about the balance between public safety and freedom of expression in Europe.
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