Geert Wilders’ far-right Islamophobic Dutch party won parliamentary elections on Wednesday, exit polls suggest, in a political earthquake that will be felt well beyond the Netherlands’ borders.
The PVV (Freedom Party) won 35 seats and a comfortable electoral victory, according to the Ipsos poll. Frans Timmermans’ left-wing alliance is second with 26 seats. The center-right VVD won 23 seats, according to the 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.
His anti-immigration message, including closing borders and deporting illegal immigrants, appears to have resonated with Dutch voters.
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.
Kate Parker, of the Economist Intelligence Unit, said it would lead to a “constitutional impasse” in the EU’s fifth-largest economy.
” Attack “
Geert Wilders and his peroxide mane have been in the Dutch political landscape for decades.
Not hesitating to call Moroccans “scum” or to propose caricature contests of the Prophet Mohammed, Mr. Wilders has built his career on a crusade against what he calls an “Islamic invasion” of the West.
Neither the troubles with the Dutch justice system – which found him guilty of insulting Moroccans – nor the death threats against him – which have kept him under police protection since 2004 – have discouraged him.
“I do not regret having fought for freedom,” Mr. Wilders told AFP in an interview on the eve of the 2021 elections.
“Of course, I’m taking a stand, I’m being attacked, my country is being attacked. »
Mr. Wilders, who tried to smooth out some of his populist rhetoric and focus on other concerns of voters, ended up exceeding expectations.
There are “more important problems than fighting the flood of asylum seekers and immigrants”, he said during one of the last election debates, adding that he was ready to put side his opinions on Islam to govern.
If immigration remained a key subject of the campaign, the Dutch are even more worried about “knowing whether they still have more money left in their wallets”, he insisted.
He promised to focus more on “security and health care” than his opposition to Islam.
He assured after voting in front of journalists in The Hague that he would be prime minister for “everyone in the Netherlands, regardless of their religion, their origin, their gender or anything else”.
“Nexit”
But the PVV manifesto retained the xenophobic tone that is its trademark.
“Asylum seekers feast on delicious free buffets on cruise ships while Dutch families must cut back on purchases,” the manifesto reads.
Proposed anti-immigration measures include reinstating Dutch border control, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants, sending back Syrian asylum seekers and re-introducing work permits for intra-EU workers.
As for Islam, the PVV manifesto says: “The Netherlands is not an Islamic country. No schools, Korans and Islamic mosques.”
He proposes banning the wearing of the veil in government buildings.
When it comes to foreign policy, he advocates a “Netherlands first” approach that includes closing its representation in Ramallah and strengthening ties with Israel, including moving its embassy to Jerusalem.
A “binding referendum” on a “Nexit” – the Netherlands’ exit from the EU – is also in the program, as well as an “immediate end” of development aid.
Mr. Wilders was participating in his sixth election, after having failed to cause an upset on several occasions.
“When I left my old party [le VVD] […] I said that one day we will become the largest party,” Mr. Wilders told journalists while voting.