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.
Zojuist heeft een traumachirurg @thierrybaudet behandeld in het UMCG. Hij is met een bierfles op zijn achterhoofd geslagen en tevens net naast zijn oog op de rand van zijn slaap geraakt. Een beveiliger raakte eveneens gewond aan zijn gezicht. We zijn ons aan het beraden of het…
— Forum voor Democratie (@fvdemocratie) November 20, 2023
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.
Totaal onacceptabel dat Thierry Baudet opnieuw is aangevallen. Ik zei het eerder en herhaal het nu stevig: van politici blijf je af. Altijd.
Ik heb @thierrybaudet zojuist veel sterkte en beterschap gewenst.
— Mark Rutte (@MinPres) November 20, 2023
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.'"
