BRUSSELS: Brussels authorities set off a political firestorm on Tuesday by ordering the shutdown of a controversial gathering of hard-right European politicians, in a move denounced by the Belgian prime minister as “unacceptable”.

Keynote speakers at the “national conservatism” conference included the eurosceptic populist Nigel Farage and Britain’s former interior minister Suella Braverman, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban scheduled to address the two-day gathering on Wednesday.

Farage’s speech went ahead amid swirling rumours the event was about to be shut down, followed by Braverman, who took the stage despite police entering the venue to notify organisers of a ban.

France’s far-right former presidential candidate Eric Zemmour was later barred by police from entering the venue to deliver an address on migration. “I think it’s absolutely monstrous,” Farage told reporters after wrapping up his address.

“This is the complete old Communist style where if you don’t agree with me, you’ve got to be banned, you’ve got to be shut down,” said the Brexit figurehead.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2024