Council of State Overturns Ban on Far-Right Rally in Ixelles

Belgium’s Council of State intervened at the last hour on Wednesday to authorize a far-right demonstration in Ixelles, overturning a ban issued by the municipality’s mayor and allowing approximately 125 protesters to gather at Place du Luxembourg, just steps from the European Parliament.

The decision by Belgium’s highest administrative court, delivered hours before the scheduled 14:45 start time, set the stage for a tense afternoon in the Brussels municipality and reignited debate over the balance between freedom of assembly and the authority of local officials to restrict demonstrations.

Last-Minute Legal Reversal

Ixelles Mayor Romain De Reusme (Parti Socialiste) had initially banned the gathering, characterizing it not as a legitimate student protest but as a far-right mobilization organized under the banner of the “Save Europe Act” campaign. According to La Libre Belgique, the mayor argued that the event posed a threat to public order.

However, the organizers challenged the ban before the Council of State, which suspended the mayor’s order, ruling that the demonstration could proceed. The DH Net reported that the court determined the ban was disproportionate, upholding the constitutional right to peaceful assembly under Article 26 of the Belgian Constitution and Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Demonstration

The rally was organized by Dutch far-right activist and political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, who promotes the “Save Europe Act” — a proposed legislative framework calling for stricter border controls, a moratorium on asylum procedures, and “remigration” policies. The event featured a truck converted into a makeshift podium where several prominent figures from European reactionary circles addressed the crowd.

Speakers included Dries Van Langenhove, the former federal MP for Vlaams Belang and founder of the Flemish nationalist youth movement Schild & Vrienden, who was convicted in 2024 for incitement to hatred and Holocaust denial. Representatives of the Flemish far-right student movement NSV (Nationalistische Studentenvereniging) were also present, their distinctive caps visible among Flemish nationalist flags.

Police reported approximately 125 attendees at the demonstration, which proceeded without major incident.

Mayor’s Fury

Mayor De Reusme did not hide his anger at the Council of State’s decision. Speaking to 7sur7, he said he was “extremely furious” (“extrêmement furieux”) and argued that the ruling raised questions that extend beyond the legal sphere.

“The gathering had been presented as a student demonstration but was in fact part of a much broader mobilisation by the European far right,” De Reusme told The Brussels Times. “Such movements rely on disinformation and the distortion of facts to fuel fear and build support for ideas that sow division and hatred.”

The mayor further argued that while the right to protest is fundamental, it “must evolve so that democracy can defend itself against those who use its freedoms to weaken it from within.”

Organizer Perspective

Vlaardingerbroek, who also advocates for the abolition of EU institutions and promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, framed the initial ban as an undemocratic suppression of political dissent. On social media, she described it as evidence of how “the Brussels Regime operates: they strip the opposition of every democratic instrument.”

According to NieuwRechts.nl, she stated: “This is bewildering, given that we are trying to use our democratic right to protest, because our democratic right to register a European Citizens’ Initiative is being threatened by the European Commission.”

Broader Context

The “Save Europe Act” campaign has gathered over 500,000 signatures according to some reports, with signatories including former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, members of Germany’s AfD party, and leaders of Belgium’s Vlaams Belang, including party chairman Tom Van Grieken and former chairman Filip Dewinter.

The demonstration’s location at Place du Luxembourg, directly adjacent to the European Parliament, underscored the pan-European dimension of the event and highlighted growing coordination among far-right groups across EU member states.

Implications

The Council of State’s ruling may set a precedent making it more difficult for Belgian mayors to ban far-right demonstrations in the future unless there is clear evidence of an imminent threat to public order. The incident has also fueled debate in Belgium about the limits of tolerance in a liberal democracy — whether democratic institutions can restrict the activities of groups perceived as threatening democratic values without undermining the very freedoms they seek to protect.

As the legal and political fallout continues, the question remains open: how should a democracy defend itself against those who would use its freedoms to weaken it from within?