Antifa protestors wrought havoc in Brussels on November 13, protesting a book signing by Rassemblement National leader Jordan Bardella and then attacking the headquarters of Flemish eurosceptic party Vlaams Belang.
In the early evening, hundreds of self-described “antifascist” demonstrators gathered at Brussels’ Rue de la Loi to protest Jordan Bardella’s book signing event “Ce que je cherche” (what I am looking for) at Maison de la Hongrie.
Antifa and others protest @J_Bardella book signing pic.twitter.com/D0ibi1bgFP
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— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) November 14, 2024
The crowd, which included younger and older protestors as well as others covered from head to toe, were chanting anti-Bardella slogans in an apparent attempt to have the event shut down.
“Bardella casses-toi Bruxelles ne veut pas de toi” (“Bardella leave, Brussels does not want you here”), the protesters shouted.
For many in the crowd, Jordan Bardella was persona non grata.
“Jordan Bardella is a fascist that needs to be stopped,” protesters told Brussels Signal.
More than simply a protest of Bardella’s book signing, the demonstration symbolised Belgium’s commitment to the cordon sanitaire: a refusal to accept hard-Right parties as legitimate.
The crowd also repeatedly called out Brussels socialist mayor Philippe Close, accusing him of failing to protect Belgian society from the hard-right’s allegedly extremist ideas by authorising Bardella’s event.
The book signing event went on despite the protest.
“Thank you, Brussels! The far Left wanted to push you back: they didn’t know you well”, Bardella wrote on social media after the signing’s successful conclusion.
Merci Bruxelles !
L’extrême gauche voulait vous faire reculer : c’était mal vous connaître 😉 pic.twitter.com/INmbIhHqQg
— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) November 13, 2024
Outside the event, fireworks were fired from within the crowd, with police eventually having to use a water cannon to disperse those gathered.
Some protesters attempted to block traffic on the boulevard beside Jordan Bardella’s event.
As the night went on, other protesters also gathered in Madou, whether they broke into the headquarters of Vlaams Belang.
The nationalist outlet reported one employee of an unrelated company in the same building was physically attacked.
In a press release, Vlaams Belgan condemned the attack and expressed concerns over political violence in the country.
“The Vlaams Belang takes offence at the fact that violence or the threat of violence is already considered normal in this country and is even condoned when it is directed against right-wing politicians,” they said.
Tom Van Grieken, Vlaams Beland’s leader, accused Sint-Joost-ten-Node’s mayor Emir Kir of permitting the violent event to happen.
“It is, of course, no surprise that the mayor of Sint-Joost-ten-Node, Emir Kir, allowed the perpetrators of violence to continue,” he said.
“And he already has a questionable anti-democratic reputation when it comes to banning peaceful political meetings or walks that he does not like,” he added.
On May 16, Belgian authorities attempted to shut down a National Conservatism conference in Sint-Joost-ten-Node.
NEW: Belgian police enter the conference venue before turning around and leaving.
According to a Brussels Signal source, the authorities entered to officially serve the notice but are not enforcing it as of yet. #NatConBrussels2 @NatConTalk pic.twitter.com/z5sZfZMdo3
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) April 16, 2024
Belgian police arrested at least 40 people last night but Vlaams Belang demanded further firmness from the authorities.
“We demand that the police and the public prosecutor do their job now and effectively track down the perpetrators of violence and vandals, and that Mayor Kir apologizes for his cowardly inaction,” said Van Grieken.
Wie geen inhoudelijke argumenten heeft, grijpt naar geweld.
Beelden: hoofdkwartier Vlaams Belang pic.twitter.com/IdrOwzRrc9
— Francesca Van Belleghem (@francescavbel) November 14, 2024
