The Dutch parliamentary election resulted in a major victory for the right-wing party, the Party for Freedom. Its leader, Geert Wilders, has been consistently running on an anti-immigration platform since 2006.
Wilders’ party has never been in a coalition before, but will still have to negotiate if it wants him as Prime Minister. He holds 25% of seats, which will make him essential for most coalition options. Reuters reports:
Far-right populist Geert Wilders wants to be the Netherlands’ next prime minister and would focus his efforts on curbing immigration, he said following a landmark election winthat will have repercussions in the Netherlands and beyond.
Wilders’ win sent a warning shot to mainstream parties across Europe ahead of European Parliament elections next June, which will likely be fought on the same issues as the Dutch election: immigration, cost of living and climate change.
Wilders’s strong criticism of Islamism has put him in the crosshairs of terror, forcing him to be under police protection for years. His main policy platform has been anti-immigration and pro-Israel. Fox News continues:
The only time Wilders came close to governing was when he supported the first coalition formed by Prime Minister Mark Rutte in 2010. But Wilders did not formally join the minority administration and brought it down after just 18 months in office in a dispute over austerity measures. Since then, mainstream parties have shunned him.
Wilders’ incendiary rhetoric against Islam has made him a target for extremists and led to him living under round-the-clock protection for years. He has appeared in court as a victim of death threats, vowing never to be silenced. He has moved from one safe house to another over nearly two decades.
Following Milei’s victory in Argentina, this new win for the populist right could presage a global trend.
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