Netherlands: Right-wing leader Thierry Baudet attacked two days before elections

Thierry Baudet, leader of the right-wing Forum for Democracy party in the Netherlands, was attacked just two days before the general election. This was confirmed by his party on his X account (formerly Twitter). It is the second attack targeting the politician during his campaign.

"They hit him on the back of the head with a beer bottle and also on the edge of his temple, right next to his eye. A security guard also suffered facial injuries. We are evaluating whether the upcoming campaign event in Zwolle can take place," Baudet's party wrote.

The party later detailed that it decided to suspend an event it had scheduled in the city of Zwolle for the politician's safety. In addition, it explained that he was treated by doctors and that he was in stable condition. Meanwhile, a video was posted on social media in which Baudet is seen in a bar when his attacker begins to hit him.

Finally, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte condemned the attack and sent a message of solidarity to Baudet. "It is totally unacceptable that Thierry Baudet has been attacked again," Rutte said on X, formerly Twitter.

In October, according to Politico, Baudet "was hit on the head with an umbrella before a university event in the Belgian city of Ghent, with the assailant allegedly shouting 'no to fascism, no to Putinism.'"