INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
In one of the biggest political upsets in Dutch politics since World War II, Geert Wilders' far-right, anti-Islam PVV (Freedom Party)
achieved a significant victory, according to early results and a reliable exit poll
The party secured 35 seats in parliament, outpacing the left-wing bloc with 25 seats and the centre-right party with 24
This outcome, if confirmed, signifies a notable shift to the right in the EU's fifth-largest economy, raising concerns in Brussels,
especially given the PVV's call for a referendum on the Netherlands' EU membership.Wilders' campaign platform for the election prominently
featured proposals for a referendum on whether the Netherlands should exit the European Union, a complete cessation of accepting
asylum-seekers, and enforcing stricter controls at Dutch borders to prevent migrant entry.His agenda also includes a plan for the
"de-Islamization" of the Netherlands
Notably, his tone towards Islam has been somewhat less severe in this election cycle compared to previous ones."Voters said, 'We are sick of
police protection for many years
He has labeled the Prophet Mohammad a "pedophile" and described Islam as a "fascist ideology" and a "backward religion." Advocating for
extreme measures, he seeks to prohibit mosques and the Quran, the sacred text of Islam, in the Netherlands.Despite his electoral success,
Wilders faces challenges in forming a stable government, needing to build a broad coalition
Addressing his supporters, Wilders emphasized the importance of the PVV in future political discussions.The leaders of the three other major
parties had initially dismissed the idea of joining a PVV-led coalition
However, Pieter Omtzigt of the New Social Contract party, which won 20 seats, indicated a willingness to engage in coalition talks, though
he acknowledged the difficulty of the process
Frans Timmermans, leader of the Green/Labour left-wing bloc, seemed to reject a coalition, focusing on defending democracy.Diederick van
Wijk from the Clingendael Institute said that the Netherlands was entering uncharted territory following Wilders' victory
He observed that other parties' focus on immigration inadvertently played into the PVV's strengths.The public reaction was mixed
Lizette Keyzer, a business manager, expressed concern over the country's rightward shift, while Habib el Kaddouri from the SMN association
of Moroccan Dutch highlighted the distress and fear within his community.Wilders, often compared to Donald Trump for both his appearance and
his rhetoric against immigrants and Muslims, has been a controversial figure
He has softened some of his more extreme views during the campaign but remained committed to his anti-Islam agenda
His manifesto included proposals like banning Islamic schools, Korans, mosques, and headscarves in government buildings, and holding a
referendum on the Netherlands leaving the EU.Wilders' foreign policy stance mirrored Trump's "America First" approach, advocating
"Netherlands first." He has received praise from Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.Despite legal issues and constant threats
to his safety, Wilders remains committed to his cause
Convicted of discrimination in 2016 for comments about Moroccans in the Netherlands, he has also faced backlash for comparing the Koran to
Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and for a controversial plan to hold a Prophet Mohammed cartoon competition, which he later cancelled due to death
threats.(With inputs from agencies)
