Jordan Bardella, leader of France’s far-right party Rassemblement National, is scheduled to visit the Flemish Parliament on 11 June at the invitation of Vlaams Belang, the party

announced through its campaign website.

The visit comes less than a year before France’s next presidential election and signals growing cooperation between nationalist movements across Europe. During the event in Flanders, Bardella is expected to outline his views on “the future of Europe and free nations,” according to organisers.

The evening programme will open with remarks from Brussels MP Bob De Brabandere, while Vlaams Belang leader Tom Van Grieken will deliver the closing speech.

The invitation marks the latest in a series of appearances by prominent French far-right figures in Flanders. In 2015, Vlaams Belang hosted Marine Le Pen, then leader of the Front National, for a colloquium at the Flemish Parliament. That visit sparked protests and political controversy at the time.

Responding to questions about Bardella’s upcoming appearance, Flemish Parliament speaker Freya Van den Bossche said the gathering falls under the category of a parliamentary group event.

“The General Secretariat reviews requests against parliamentary regulations. If the application complies with those rules, authorisation is granted,” Van den Bossche said. “As this event met the required conditions, permission was approved.” Photo by European Parliament, Wikimedia commons.