Socialist party Mayor of the Brussels-Capital Region municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Emir Kir, attempted to shut down the National Conservatism Conference featuring Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, former Polish Prime Minsiter Mateusz Morawiecki, and founder of the U.K. Brexit Party Nigel Farage.
Kir said he ordered the police to shut the event down in the interest of public safety, stating on X:
I issued an order from the Mayor to ban the “National Conservatism Conference” event to guarantee public safety.
In Etterbeek, Brussels City and Saint-Josse, the far-right is not welcome.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stated that Kir violated the Belgian constitution, posting on X:
What happened at the Claridge today is unacceptable. Municipal autonomy is a cornerstone of our democracy but can never overrule the Belgian constitution guaranteeing the freedom of speech and peaceful assembly since 1830. Banning political meetings is unconstitutional. Full stop.
Orbán described Kir as a communist, stating on X:
The communists couldn’t ban us and neither could the Brussels bureaucrats. The second day of the @NatConTalk conference is underway.
Farage said Kir’s actions were a great advertisement for Brexit, stating on X:
The Brussels Mayor who gave the order to shut down the conference is @Emir_Kir. He is anti-democratic, anti-free speech and a great advert for Brexit.
