2023-11-23 00:48:51
Geert Wilders (PVV) at the announcement of his party’s victory in the legislative elections, in The Hague, November 22, 2023. PETER DEJONG / AP
Geert Wilders’ far-right Islamophobic Dutch party won the legislative elections on Wednesday, November 22, in a political earthquake that will be felt well beyond the borders of the Netherlands.
The PVV (Freedom Party) won 35 seats and a comfortable electoral victory, according to the Ipsos exit poll. Frans Timmermans’ left-wing alliance is second with 26 seats. The center-right VVD won 23 seats, according to this poll.
If it is confirmed by the final results, Mr. Wilders’ victory marks a sudden turn to the right which will be greeted with apprehension in Brussels: the PVV has notably promised a referendum on the accession of the Netherlands to the European Union.
“It may not be what other parties in Europe or other countries are looking for, but hey, that’s democracy,” the 60-year-old politician said after voting.
Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Netherlands: Geert Wilders, latest spoiler in very close legislative elections
His anti-immigration message, including closing borders and deporting illegal immigrants, appears to have resonated with Dutch voters.
Xenophobic discourse and threat of “Nexit”
Not hesitating to treat Moroccans as “scum” nor to propose caricature contests of the Prophet Mohammed, Mr. Wilders has built his career on a crusade against what he calls a “Islamic invasion” of the West.
“Asylum seekers feast on delicious free buffets on cruise ships while Dutch families must cut back on purchases”, we can read in the PVV manifesto. Proposed anti-immigration measures include reinstating Dutch border control, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants, and banning the wearing of headscarves in government buildings.
Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Recep Tayyip Erdogan files complaint for “insult” against Dutch MP Geert Wilders
In terms of foreign policy, he defends an approach “The Netherlands first” which includes closing its representation in Ramallah and strengthening ties with Israel, including moving its embassy to Jerusalem. A “binding referendum” on a “Nexit”, the exit of the Netherlands from the EU, is also in the program, as well as a “immediate stop” development aid.
Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed on “the winds of change” after the victory of the far right of Geert Wilders during the legislative elections in the Netherlands.
The challenge of forming a government
But if Mr. Wilders seems to have triumphed in the polls, it is not certain that he will succeed in forming a government coalition. The leaders of the other three main parties have assured that they will not participate in a coalition led by the PVV.
The World Application
The Morning of the World
Every morning, find our selection of 20 articles not to be missed
Download the app
Geert Wilders this Wednesday evening called on other Dutch parties to work together to form a coalition, stressing that his party PVV (Freedom Party) “can no longer be ignored”. The left and environmentalist alliance of Frans Timmermans is second with 26 seats. The center-right VVD won 23 seats, according to this Ipsos poll. However, a coalition needs 76 seats out of the 150 in the lower house of Parliament to govern.
Once the final results are known, we will get out the calculators to establish which combination of the numerous parties having obtained seats will be able to reach this number. Forming a cabinet is, then, “a complex and exciting process”, assures Parliament on its website. After the 2021 elections, it took 271 days to create the coalition that was to be Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s last, a record.
#Geert #Wilders #wins #legislative #elections #exit #polls