Another Day, Another Ban: Brussels Blocks Right-Wing Protest

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Another Day, Another Ban: Brussels Blocks Right-Wing Protest

The organisers of the ‘Save Europe Act’ have launched an urgent legal challenge against the decision by the mayor of Brussels.

Zoltán Kottász
— July 15, 2026

Campaign organisers described the decision as an attack on their democratic right to protest and immediately instructed lawyers to challenge the ban. At the time of writing, the appeal was under review, with the campaign saying its legal team was “highly optimistic” that the courts would uphold the fundamental right to peaceful assembly.

The demonstration was due to take place on Place du Luxembourg, where supporters intended to hand over the signatures to back the campaign’s proposed European Citizens’ Initiative. However, Brussels authorities prohibited the gathering, prompting organisers to seek an emergency court ruling.

The campaign has so far collected more than 535,000 signatures. Under the rules governing European Citizens’ Initiatives, one million validated signatures from at least seven EU member states would require the European Commission to formally consider the proposal. The Commission has already said, however, that the initiative is “manifestly contrary” to the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights and its “values.”

In a video posted on X, campaign co-initiator Eva Vlaardingerbroek described the decision to ban the protest as “mind-blowing,” arguing that campaigners were attempting to exercise their democratic right to protest. She said lawyers had been instructed to challenge the ban immediately.

Hours later, the campaign said its appeal was under review, adding that its legal team was “highly optimistic” that the fundamental right to protest would be upheld.

Supporters of the campaign accused Brussels authorities of applying double standards, arguing that demonstrations by left-wing organisations and groups supporting causes such as Palestine, Kurdistan, and refugee rights are routinely permitted in the same location.

Everyone is allowed to protest on the Place du Luxembourg in front of the European Parliament: whether they are Antifa, Pro-Palestine, Pro-Curdistan and Pro-refugee.

But the EU does not seem to like Pro-European

They want to shut down ONLY our demonstration.

The current EU is… pic.twitter.com/qMEBHV4s9j

— Save Europe Act (@SaveEuropeAct) July 14, 2026

Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) MEP Petra Steger condemned the decision, describing it as political arbitrariness and an attack on freedom of assembly. Spain’s VOX party also criticised the ban:

In Brussels, Eritreans, Afghans, and Yemenis are demonstrating. But to the Europeans who demand a halt to wild immigration, the mayor prohibits the square.

The EU capital is no stranger to similar decisions.

Brussels authorities unlawfully banned the 2024 National Conservatism Conference, with a court later ruling that authorities had violated fundamental rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.

Other recent incidents include the cancellation of a political event featuring French right-wing politician Florian Philippot and the arrest of Canadian activist ‘Billboard Chris’ during a peaceful demonstration.

Zoltán Kottász is a journalist for europeanconservative.com, based in Budapest. He worked for many years as a journalist and as the editor of the foreign desk at the Hungarian daily, Magyar Nemzet. He focuses primarily on European politics.

Tags: Belgium, Brussels, European Commission, European Parliament, Save Europe Act

Another Day, Another Ban: Brussels Blocks Right-Wing Protest

Another Day, Another Ban: Brussels Blocks Right-Wing Protest

Another Day, Another Ban: Brussels Blocks Right-Wing Protest

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