Belgian MEP Tom Vandendriessche gives a speech during a campaign meeting of Flemish right-wing party Vlaams Belang at the Antwerp Expo in Antwerp on June 2, 2024.
Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP
A Belgian Patriot MEP described the organisation as “a direct threat to our citizens and to democracy itself.”
European conservatives are hoping to replicate Donald Trump’s plans to designate Antifa as a terror group in the U.S. across the Continent.
Hungary has already made it clear that it will follow Trump’s lead, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán saying last week that “Antifa is a terrorist organisation.” Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also wrote to EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas over the weekend about how “this violent far-left network has carried out brutal attacks across Europe, including in Budapest,” and insisting that
Europe must align its steps with the U.S., the leading force in the global fight against terrorism.
Hungarian MEP András László added that especially following the death of Charlie Kirk, “it is clear this organisation can no longer be allowed to fester.”
The European Parliament is unlikely to agree, though, having just voted against lifting the immunity of an MEP who was arrested and imprisoned in Hungary in 2023 for participating in attacks organised by an Antifa-linked group.
Reports on Tuesday revealed that the Patriots for Europe group in the EP is gathering signatures to file a resolution declaring Antifa as a terrorist entity. Politico’scoverage of this move appeared to put what it described as the “far-right” group of MEPs on par with the “far-left activist organisation,” which is rather revealing of its stance.
Belgian politician Tom Vandendriessche, who represents the Patriots for Europe group, described Antifa as “a direct threat to our citizens and to democracy itself.” His motion will be filed on October 1st.
AfD politician Malte Kaufmann also said last week that his party will designate Antifa as a terror group in Germany if it gains power in upcoming elections.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
