Second day of National Conservatism Conference may go ahead
The second day of the National Conservatism Conference (NatCon), a gathering of some 40 prominent conservative, religious and far-right figures in Brussels, may go ahead as planned on Wednesday.
The mayor of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Emir Kir, issued a police order to cancel the conference on Tuesday. The Council of State now rules that the ban violated the right to assemble peacefully and that there was not sufficient risk of violence to cancel the event.
The two-day conference had to change its venue after two previous venues cancelled at the last minute. Within hours of the event beginning at a third venue, the Claridge, police attended and blocked people from entering. Kir said he had issued a ban to ensure public safety and said the far right was not welcome.
Prime minister Alexander De Croo called the move unacceptable and said the Belgian constitution guaranteed freedom of speech. "Banning political meetings is unconstitutional. Full stop," he said on X.
UK politician Nigel Farage leaves the building after police block the entrance to the NatCon event in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE
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