NatCon’s on-off conference halted by Brussels police

Police in Brussels have moved to shut down a right-wing conference attended by leading British Eurosceptic and former MEP Nigel Farage. The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, was also due to speak at the event. The local mayor said he was banning the event to “guarantee public safety”.

The National Conservatism conference (NatCon) had only just got underway at the Claridge in Brussels when police arrived to halt proceedings. On his way there, Nigel Farage said Brussels "appears to have got even worse" since Brexit.

“I mean talk about cancel culture; these are political parties that are going to come top of the poll in at least nine European countries when we get the results through on June 10 of this year”, he said. So, on my way back to the ghastly Brussels, cancel culture alive and well”.

It’s certainly true that the first two venues arranged for the conference cancelled the bookings. The location had to be changed with less than 24 hours notice after the second location to be publicised, the Sofitel hotel on Place Jourdan in Brussels, pulled out.

It seems the district mayor and the local police had raised concerns about security and possible counter demonstrations. Similar objections had already led to the cancellation of the original venue announced for the two-day conference.

 “The hotel, which signed the contract on Friday, checked who the guests were and what the nature of the event was”, explained the mayor of the Etterbeek district. “An event of this magnitude is not without consequences in terms of unrest”, he added. The gathering was therefore once again canceled. The organisers, who were already on site to install equipment, did not want to leave the hotel when the cancellation was announced. A police team then intervened.

NatCon was initially scheduled to take place at the Concert Noble. Under pressure from various organisations such as the Anti-Fascist Coordination of Belgium, the manager of the Edificio reception hall decided to cancel the event. The mayor of the City of Brussels, Philippe Close, had recommended to the manager that he either cancelled the conference or arranged suitable security.

Former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, accused the authorities in Brussels of trying to “undermine and denigrate” free speech. Speaking from inside the conference, where she was due to be a keynote speaker, Ms Baverman said “it’s a real shame that the thought police, instructed by the mayor of Brussels, has saw fit to try and undermine and denigrate what is free speech and free debate.

“I remember the words of Mrs Thatcher, I’m going to misquote her, but the more ridiculous and far-fetched and extremist their attempts are to silence us, the more cheered on I am because it just shows that they’ve lost. They’ve lost the political argument.

“What really does concern me here in Brussels is that only last year, the mayor of Brussels was happy to host the mayor of Tehran here in Brussels. And yet he seems to be pretty offended by democratically elected politicians, people from all over the European continent who are giving voice to millions of people talking about things like securing our borders”.

“Could this happen in the UK? I generally think we have a culture of freedom of speech, we value debate and a free flow of ideas. It’s a cherished foundation of our democracy and long may continue”.

NatCon organisers claimed food and water deliveries were being blocked to the venue, writing on X that people were able to leave the conference, but could not return. “The police are not letting anyone in. People can leave, but they cannot return. Delegates have limited access to food and water, which are being prevented from delivery”.

The decision by a local mayor to send in the police was unreservedly condemned by Belgium’s Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo. “What happened at the Claridge today is unacceptable”, he said. “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”.

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