The National Conservatism conference in Brussels has had two venues cancel on hosting the event after facing significant opposition from so-called anti-fascist groups and left-wing politicians.
After settling on a third venue, the conference began on 16 April, though there are still doubts as to whether the two-day conference will be able to run normally and to completion at the end of 17 April. Figures due to appear <a href="https://nationalconservatism.org/natcon-brussels-2/presenters/gerhard-ludwig-cardinal-muller/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">include</mark></a> German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, alongside leading European political figures and intellectuals.
The include former MEP and Brexit Party founder Nigel Farage, the previous UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman and the British counter-cultural academic Matt Goodwin, author of <em>Values, Voice and Virtue: The New British Politic</em>s. The Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán and former Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki are due to address the conference also.<br><br>“What we have is a systematic attempt to sabotage everything to do with the conference,” one of the conference’s organisers, MCC Brussels Executive Director Frank Furedi, <a href="https://brusselssignal.eu/2024/04/brussels-mayor-threatens-to-cut-power-to-conservative-event/">told</a> <em>Brussels Signal </em>on the morning of 16 April. “They then threatened to cut electricity and all that.”
Groups such as Antifa, a left-wing anti-fascist and anti-racist political movement in the United States, have labeled the conference as spreading "toxic lies" and attempting to "normalise hatred”.
More substantial pressure has also come from the political leadership of Brussels itself, <a href="https://brusselssignal.eu/2024/04/despite-state-attempts-to-scupper-it-brussels-conservative-conference-kicks-off/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">reports</mark></a> the <em>Brussels Signal</em>, with the Socialist mayors of the Brussels central region and Etterbeek both successfully pushing for two separate venues for the conference "into being revoked". <br><br>The conference aims to bring together "public figures, journalists, scholars, and students who understand that the past and future of conservatism are inextricably tied to the idea of the nation, to the principle of national independence, and to the revival of the unique national traditions that alone have the power to bind a people together and bring about their flourishing," <a href="https://nationalconservatism.org/natcon-brussels-2/about/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">notes</mark></a> the conference website.
“Americans should know that here in Brussels, local officials and the police have compelled two venues to cancel the NatCon conference, under pressure from Antifa,” Rod Dreher, an outspoken conservative Christian and author of the best-selling <em>The Benedict Op</em>tion and <em>Live Not By Lies</em>, <mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><a href="https://x.com/roddreher/status/1780003574077899005">messaged</a> </mark>on the social media platform <em>X</em>.
“This is the state of liberty and democracy in the capital of Europe. Bloody hell – we're going to meet. I hope we can get police protection. But Antifa wishes to silence us, and so do city officials. This is hugely symbolic for Europe's future. Pay attention.”
He also noted that harassment from those opposing the conference has <a href="https://x.com/roddreher/status/1780160055007936867">included</a> threats toward the families of those participating. Speakers for the event are due to address issues such as the European Union's influence and the need for freedom of speech.
Previously, senior European bishops have <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/europes-top-bishop-warns-that-european-union-faces-a-critical-step-this-june/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">warned</mark></a> that the European Union faces a “critical step” this June for its “future” during EU elections.<br><br>They have also spoken out<mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"> <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/abortion-can-never-be-a-fundamental-right-bishops-warn-eu/">against efforts</a></mark> to include the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.<br><br>"The challenges to national sovereignty posed by the EU’s drive towards ever-closer union create a unique opportunity for political conservatism to present an alternative vision for Europe," notes the conference website. "The upcoming EU parliamentary elections add urgency to the task of articulating the priorities of the voters and demonstrating the relevance of Conservative ideals for the future of the nations of Europe."
After the conference got under way, Dreher provided further updates indicating that the conference is still in jeopardy.<br><br>“Mayor of Brussels has now issued an order to police to shut down [National Conservatism] conference in Brussels. We are waiting for the cops now. Mayor trying to shut off electricity to hall, and catering. This is supposedly a free democratic country.”<br><br><em>Photo: Delegates attend the National Conservatism Conference in Brussels, Belgium, 16 April 2024.(Photo by SIMON WOHLFAHRT/AFP via Getty Images.)</em>
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