(Venlo) If the electoral victory of Dutch Islamophobic politician Geert Wilders caused a shock at the seat of power in The Hague, many residents of his hometown in the southeast of the Netherlands welcomed it.
It was in Venlo, where he was born 60 years ago in a middle-class Catholic suburb, that the far-right politician won the largest percentage of local votes in the legislative elections.
“Of course I’m happy for him. After all, he comes from Venlo. From time to time he says extreme things, but otherwise he is a good man,” says Mustafa, 39.
“I see a lot of poverty, a lot of poverty. It’s probably because of the (current) government,” he continues, echoing many voters unhappy with outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s cabinet.
“I sincerely hope that Geert Wilders can do something about this,” Mustafa adds from the historic town square, asking that his last name not be used.
Another resident, who says he is of Turkish and Muslim origin, says he voted for Mr Wilders and is “proud that he comes from Venlo”.
“We are all poor and we think he can change things,” said the unemployed 41-year-old, munching on a grilled cheese sandwich.
The two men assure AFP that they do not believe that Mr. Wilders, who has recently tried to calm his Islamophobic rhetoric, will follow through on his previous threats to close mosques in the Netherlands.
“That’s not going to happen, no. Geert Wilders does not have the power to close mosques,” says Mustafa, who emphasizes that he did not vote for Mr. Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV).
“Guys from Venlo”
Mr. Wilders, recognizable by his peroxided hair, won 36.3% of the vote in Venlo, almost doubling his result in the 2021 legislative elections, according to local channel 1Limburg.
PHOTO ROB ENGELAAR, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
“I believe in listening to the voice of the people. This is the most important thing,” thinks Dorien Engels, 54, as he crosses the city’s main square.
“There are discords within society and we see that it is going in a certain direction,” continues this employee of the local hospital.
“I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing, but I think we have to listen to a very large part of the Netherlands,” she adds.
Mr. Wilders himself often speaks of his childhood in Venlo, located a few kilometers from the German border on the banks of the Meuse. “Venlo is a great place, I had a great youth there,” he said.
Marleen Kuiper knows that Mr. Wilders is proud to come from Venlo. “It’s true that he comes from here, he went to school here. So if you think about it, there’s nothing wrong with that. He’s a guy from Venlo,” said the resident.
Others, however, appear more reserved.
” It’s like that. It’s democracy,” sighs Aidan Lebihan, 18, when asked about Mr. Wilders’ electoral victory. “The people chose. That’s all “.