Piola.libri was to host the event but cancelled it last week, citing concerns about "political connotation."Continue reading
Disturbing scenes unfolded on Wednesday night in the center of the Belgian capital Brussels, where up to a thousand far-left extremists and Islamists took to the streets to protest against the book launch of French MEP Jordan Bardella.
The event took place in the recently renovated Hungarian House in Brussels, as few other venues or book shops would be willing to take the potential risks involved with the launch. Jordan Bardella, member of the European Parliament for the National Rally, and leader of the Patriots for Europe bloc, was signing his book entitled What I am looking for (Ce que je cherche).
File Photo: X Jordan Bardella
Our readers, who were invited to the book signing, reported heavy police presence around the venue, with armored vehicles, emergency services, and riot police forming an impenetrable cordon around the Hungarian House in Central Brussels. Some of those invited had trouble getting through the police cordon or the crowds of extremists protesting against the event.
Far-left Antifa and anti-Israel protesters have gathered in the early evening near the venue, estimates speak of high-hundreds to a thousand demonstrators. Despite the threat of violence, large numbers of guests have queued up for the book signing. The author of the book himself, Jordan Bardella reacted to the developments on X saying “The extreme left wanted you to back down: they do not know you very well.”
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
In view of recent incidents, Brussels is gaining a reputation of systemic intolerance towards events organized by institutions or personalities on the national-conservative side. Earlier this year, the National Conservative conference was targeted by Marxist and Antifa extremists, while at the same time, attempts were made by local mayors to ban the conference hosting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. More recently, a Brussels book shop had cancelled the launch of the MCC Brussels Director, Frank Füredi’s book, quoting security concerns as well as free speech arguments.
Vous êtes très nombreux ce soir à la Maison de Hongrie pour la troisième séance de dédicaces de @J_Bardella !
N’en déplaise à ceux qui voulaient interdire cet événement, en France comme ici en Belgique, les patriotes ont leur mot à dire ! pic.twitter.com/DyMpkNMTH6
— Rassemblement National (@RNational_off) November 13, 2024
Classic Brussels Welcome.
Congratulations to @J_Bardella on his new book!
The book launch took place at the last bastion of free speech in #Brussels, the #Hungarian House, and was received by a violent mob of far-left #extremists who threw bottles and fireworks at the… https://t.co/PC2J3IH7yH pic.twitter.com/nB8FgGzMNc— Balázs Orbán (@BalazsOrban_HU) November 13, 2024
Balázs Orbán, political director to the Hungarian Prime Minister, also posted on X, saying: “The book launch took place at the last bastion of free speech in Brussels, the Hungarian House, and was received by a violent mob of far-left extremists who threw bottles and fireworks at the police. What a disgrace to the capital of the EU!”
The incident echoes circumstances surrounding the football match between Belgium and Israel, where local Belgian stadiums have refused to host the match, citing security reasons. Eventually the match took place in Hungary with no incidents reported.
Belgian police form a cordon around the Hungarian House in Brussels. Photo: Stringer Hungary Today
Features Image: Hungary Today