Politician Thierry Baudet was hit in the head by a man before a conference at Ghent University and was subsequently arrested. The man hit Baudet with a folding umbrella.
Vlaams Belang politician Filip Dewinter was present at the event. In a video shared on X, the FVD leader is seen being shot while entering the university building.
Baudet said on NPO Radio 1’s “Langs de Lijn en Omstreek” that everything was going well considering the circumstances, but there was a “noticeable swelling” on his head. “I was able to give my speech after drinking a glass of water. But of course it’s very unfortunate that this happened.”
The politician says it looks like an “ambush.” “I got distracted to one side and then someone from the left side jumped at me with what turned out to be an umbrella. “That was so fast.”
The class started shortly after the scheduled time at 20:00. According to Belgian news site VRT, approximately 300 people had tickets.
Anti-fascist message
In the footage, the attacker who hit Baudet with an umbrella can be heard shouting “No to fascism, no to Putinism” in Ukrainian.
Baudet has regularly made pro-Russian statements in the past, including during the investigation into the downing of Flight MH17. Shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Baudet called Putin “the leader of conservative Europe.” Great man.”
The lesson continued
VRT journalist Ward Schouppe witnessed the incident. Baudet says there were many journalists and police officers at the university when he arrived. An hour ago, about twenty people protested the politician’s arrival in the center of Ghent, not far from the university. According to Schouppe, they had a Ukrainian flag with them.
The Flemish journalist said that Baudet screamed at the moment of the attack, but the blow did not seem that bad. “He walked past me with his hand on his head, but as far as I could see he was unharmed.”
Even before Baudet’s visit to Ghent University, there was excitement at the conference organized by the conservative student association KVHV. Due to incidents with previous guest speakers, the university chose to cancel the lecture. However, the Council of State decided that security could be guaranteed and that the university should make the classroom building suitable for classes.
“Totally unacceptable”
In X, many political parties in the House of Representatives expressed outrage over the incident. “Unacceptable”, “unacceptable” and “ugly”, for example VVD, CDA, ChristenUnie, BBB, PVV, GroenLinks/PvdA, NSC, ChristenUnie and Eq.
It is assumed that the action had a political reason. “What happened to Thierry Baudet this evening is completely unacceptable. Violence should never be tolerated. “Freedom of expression must be protected and the perpetrator must be prosecuted,” says GroenLinks/PvdA boss Timmermans.
“Violence is always unacceptable, and especially here because it aims to restrict Thierry Baudet’s freedom of expression,” said NSC’s Omtzigt. VVD boss Yeşilgöz also says: “You are fighting with words. Never with violence. “This is completely unacceptable.”
Prime Minister Rutte reacts similarly.
The parties also wish Baudet plenty of strength.
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
