French far-right leader Bardella meets Vlaams Belang in Brussels amid protests over migration policy

Jordan Bardella, the leader of France's far-right National Rally, arrived in Brussels on 11 June as part of his European outreach campaign to bolster ties with the Flemish nationalist party Vlaams Belang. The visit follows earlier stops in Portugal and Italy, as nationalist parties seek greater influence over EU policies.

Speaking at the Flemish Parliament, Bardella urged closer coordination among like-minded parties on migration and asylum policy, arguing that joint action could reshape decision-making across the European Union. He praised the decade-long alliance with Vlaams Belang and welcomed proposed EU measures that would allow asylum claims to be processed outside Europe and expedite deportations.

Outside the parliament building, several hundred protesters gathered, accusing Bardella's movement of promoting policies that threaten equality and democratic freedoms. The visit comes amid growing attention to France's 2027 presidential election, in which Bardella could play a leading role depending on forthcoming legal and political developments within the National Rally.