Hundreds protest far-right Bardella’s arrival in Brussels

Police deployed water cannons at demonstrators after hundreds gathered in Brussels on Wednesday to protest the arrival of French far-right politician Jordan Bardella. 

The chairman of France’s far-right National Rally party, Bardella arrived in Belgium to present his recently published memoir. 

Local media reports that around 300 protesters organised by left-wing groups and from Belgian universities were met by police as they demonstrated against Bardella’s arrival. 

Slogans against the police were chanted and protesters set off fireworks as they tried to get through an erected barricade, when police deployed a water cannon to keep protesters at bay. 

Protesters moved to other parts of the city, reportedly pelting the headquarters of Belgian far-right political party Vlaams Belang. 

The party’s chairman shared footage on X, alleging they attacked a staff member of a company also based in the building. 

Bardella’s book has been on shelves since last week and has also been the root of controversy within France, with its publisher suing an advertiser which allegedly refused to run promos for book in train stations. 

The book’s release coincides with the trial of party leader Marine le Pen and other party members on trial for embezzling EU funds.