After a landmark election win, far-right populist Geert Wilders has expressed his desire to become the next prime minister of the Netherlands. Wilders plans to focus on curbing immigration if he comes to power, a move that has sent ripples of concern through European mainstream parties ahead of the European Parliament elections next June.
One voter, Herman Borcher, summarized the prevailing mood, stating “We’ve had it with the old politicians,” in the town of Enschede.
A supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump and Hungary’s eurosceptic Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Wilders is openly anti-Islam and anti-EU. He has stated that his main goal is to “return the Netherlands to the Dutch.”
However, Wilders will have to compromise on his radical ideas – such as taking the country out of the EU or banning the Koran – as other parties he must work with in order to form a coalition government are likely to reject these proposals.
Despite this, fellow populists across the continent have welcomed Wilders’ win as evidence that “a new Europe is possible.”
In a surprising turn of events, Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) secured 37 seats out of 150, surpassing mainstream parties. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) won 24 seats. Coalition talks are expected to take months.
Speaking to party members, Wilders expressed his willingness to negotiate and his eagerness to become the Dutch prime minister. He also reiterated his support for a referendum on whether the Netherlands should leave the EU, while emphasizing the need to significantly restrict asylum and immigration.
Amid concerns about the future of Islam and Muslims in the Netherlands, Islamic and Moroccan organizations, and other rights groups have expressed worries about Wilders’ victory in a country where Muslims make up about 5% of the population.
Friday’s meeting of party leaders will decide on an ‘explorer’, a political outsider who will hear from each party about the possibilities and preferences in coalition talks.
Overall, Wilders’ win has sent shockwaves through Europe, with some seeing it as a warning to the established political parties, while others are concerned about the impact on EU membership and the treatment of minority groups in the Netherlands.
