Nigel Farage pictured during the NatCon National Conservatism Conference, at the Claridge, in Sint-Joost-ten-Node/ Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Brussels, Tuesday 16 April 2024. (Photo by JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE/Belga/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
Brussels police shut down the National Conservatism Conference (NatCon) on Tuesday citing the potential for public disorder, reportedly during a presentation by GB News host and Brexiteer Nigel Farage.
The event also promised appearances from former Home Secretary Suella Barverman, Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán and French politician Eric Zemmour but was shut down just two hours into proceedings at the Claridge venue near the European Quarter.
The Claridge was the third attempt to secure a venue for the annual NatCon gathering, following rejections from other centres influenced by city’s political leaders aiming to prevent the event.
“The authorities decided to shut the event due to the possibility of public disorder,” a police officer told event organisers, according to POLITICO.
Farage, managing to address the crowd before the shutdown, decried the move as “simply monstrous.” He said: “I knew I wouldn
Frank Füredi of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) think tank, a co-sponsor of the event, told POLITICO: “It’s really something out of a tinpot dictatorship. They’re trying to use a technical reason to make a political point. They told the owner that if it doesn’t get shut down they’re gonna cut the electricity.”
Police reportedly also warned of a looming counter-protest, stating concerns over maintaining peace. This led to a tense exchange where Anthony Gilland, chief of staff at MCC, who was given a mere 15 minutes to review and sign the shutdown notice.