Fidesz MEPs have penned a letter to Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament (EP), expressing their concerns about the surreal events that unfolded at the National Conservatism (NatCon) Conference in Brussels last week.
‘It cannot be left unaddressed that in Brussels, the very city that claims to exemplify European democracy, tolerance, and diversity, the fundamental rights of politicians and public figures are being obstructed by such brutal means. We respectfully urge the President to publicly condemn this during the next plenary session of the European Parliament,’ stated the letter signed by seven MEPs. Alongside Kinga Gál and Enikő Győri, the letter bears the signatures, among others, of Ryszard Legutko, the Polish co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, and Tom Vandendriessche of Identity and Democracy (ID).
Last Tuesday and Wednesday saw the National Conservatism Conference in Brussels, attended by prominent figures from the European right, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Nigel Farage, Honorary President of the British Reform UK (formerly the Brexit Party), and former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. However, on the opening day of the event something unforeseen occurred: Emir Kir, the left-wing mayor of the Saint-Josse district of Brussels, attempted to halt the conference using police force because the speakers’ world-views and stances on key issues did not align with those of the mainstream left.
It’s crucial to highlight that prior to Emir Kir’s decree two venues had already cancelled the conference due to political pressure from various left-wing politicians, including the Socialist Mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close. It’s abundantly clear from these events that progressives are employing every means available to stifle dissent.
‘The actions taken, apart from being unworthy of an EU Member State, represent a grave infringement upon the speakers’ freedom of thought and conscience, their right to freedom of expression and information, and their freedom of assembly, as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,’
the MEPs stated in a letter addressed to Roberta Metsola.
The Brussels mayors’ plan failed, however, and the conference ran smoothly after the chaotic events of the first day. The unparalleled incident sparked significant international outcry. Although left-wing Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo condemned the unprecedented behaviour of the Brussels mayors, the
European Parliament and the European Commission—particularly sensitive to the issue of freedom of expression and opinion regarding Hungary—have remained silent on the matter.
The events have proven particularly advantageous for the right, as less than two months before the crucial European Parliament elections, a new battleground has emerged in the campaign: the fight for freedom of speech. The chaotic event surrounding the Brussels conference validates the right’s narrative that progressives aim to suppress dissenting voices and vilify right-wing political figures.
So, in June, the question extends beyond whether the EU will be guided by pro-peace or pro-war leaders in the next five years, or whether politicians who support or oppose farmers will hold sway in decision-making positions. It now also revolves around whether there will be room for voices divergent from the mainstream narratives in the future.
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