Right-wing Brussels event resumes after legal U-turn
An international right-wing conference in Brussels has been allowed to go ahead on its second day after a ban by the local mayor was overturned.
Belgium’s top administrative court said in an overnight ruling that the ban violated the country’s constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
Mayor Emir Kir had said he wanted to ensure public security.
But Mr Kir later confirmed the conference would go ahead – although he said he would remain “vigilant”.
Brexiteer Nigel Farage, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and several other right-wing European politicians are attending the event..
Legal advocacy organisation ADF, which backed the organisers of the National Conservatism conference, said that Tuesday’s events were “a dark mark on European democracy”.
“No official should have the power to shut down free and peaceful assembly merely because he disagrees with what is being said,” ADF added.
French far-right politician Eric Zemmour, who was prevented from entering the venue on Tuesday, told reporters on site: “Thanks to God, thanks to the pressure we exerted, thanks to the scandal in all of Europe, Europe has shown that it was still the continent of liberal democracy and of the rule of law.”