National Conservative Congress: tells police to cancel right-wing event in Brussels

Brussels police were ordered on Tuesday to shut down a meeting of right-wing politicians including Brexiteer Nigel Farage and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Organizers said people were blocked from entering the National Conservative Conference hours after it began, but continued to do so for those inside.

The local mayor said he issued the order to ensure public safety.

Conference organizers said they had “survived attempts to silence us.”

They said they planned to continue their meeting on Wednesday, writing, “See you tomorrow!” on X (formerly Twitter).

“Brussels has just stepped up a gear. If anyone stands up for peace, they will simply be kicked out,” Hungarian Orbán, who is scheduled to speak there, wrote on Facebook.

“There is no question. On June 9, we must say it clearly: There will be no war!” he added, referring to the European election date.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo also criticized the move to close the conference, calling it “unacceptable.”

“The ban on political gatherings is unconstitutional. A total suspension,” Decroo wrote of X.

De Croo noted that the local mayor, Emile Kiel, was the one who opposed the conference, and said that while municipal autonomy is the cornerstone of Belgian democracy, “the Belgian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, must never be overthrown.” I can’t.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also said reports of police conduct were “deeply worrying”.

A spokesperson for Mr Sunak said he was a “strong supporter and defender of free speech” and said: “Canceling events, preventing attendance and banning speakers from participating in the event is a result of the freedom of speech and democracy.” He said he believed it would be damaging to the principle.

Mr Sunak’s own MP, Suela Braverman, had earlier attended the event, and Mr Braverman told the BBC that he was not kicked out and was able to give a speech.

The National Conservative Conference reportedly began around 8 a.m. (6 a.m. GMT) on Tuesday when police arrived to enforce Mayor Kiel’s order, telling organizers to remove attendees. It went on without interruption for about 3 hours until asked.

Police then blocked the entrance to the venue and did not allow anyone to enter, but they were allowed to leave.

Mayor Quil of the city’s San Jos district said he issued the ban to ensure public safety.

In a message to organizers, Kill said some attendees at Tuesday’s conference held anti-gay and anti-abortion views. “Several of these individuals are from the conservative right, the religious right, and the European far right, among others,” his statement said.

“The far right is not welcome,” he added of X.

Taking to the stage this morning, Mr Farage told the BBC that the decision to shut down the conference because of homophobes in the audience was a “cobbler” and condemned the decision as an attempt to stifle free speech. he said.

“Thank God for Brexit,” he said.

The National Conservative Conference, sponsored by a think tank called the Edmund Burke Foundation, is a global movement that embraces what it calls traditional values, arguing that traditional values ​​are “being undermined and overthrown.” There is. It also opposes further European integration.

The conference said it aimed to bring together “celebrities, journalists, academics and students” who understand the relationship between conservatism and national ideas and traditions.

French far-right politician Eric Zemmour, who arrived at the conference after police blocked the entrance, told reporters that Kiir was “using the police as a private militia to prevent Europeans from freely participating. I’m doing it,” he said.

Organizers announced that Zemur would not be allowed to enter the venue and his speech would be postponed.

In addition to Orbán, former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was scheduled to speak at Wednesday’s event. In any case, Orbán is scheduled to visit Brussels for the European Council meeting.

Earlier, organizers said they would appeal the order to shut down the conference at X.

“Police entered the venue at our invitation, saw the proceedings and the press corps, and quickly withdrew. Could they have witnessed how peaceful the event was?” they posted. .

Located near Brussels’ European Quarter, Claridge event space can accommodate up to 850 people. About 250 people were in attendance Tuesday afternoon.

Claridge’s owner Mohamed Nemri told the BBC he decided to host the event because: “We don’t turn down any party, even if we don’t share the same views. That’s normal.” said.

“I’m a Muslim and people have different opinions, but that’s it. We live in a free country. I want people to speak freely,” he added.

This will be the third venue scheduled to host the event after the previous two venues were unable to hold the event. Belgian media reported that one venue had withdrawn under pressure from a group called the Belgian Anti-Fascist Coordination.