The results of the Dutch elections have sent shockwaves through Europe. Concerns regarding the results are rising from all parts of the world, from the political to religious spectrum. The far-right political party of the Netherlands secured a massive number of seats in the recent election. The Populist Geert Wilders might come into power if everything falls into place, which can cause further headaches in Europe.
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A Political Upset
The election results and news arising from the Netherlands are sending a wave of concern across Europe. The far-right and anti-Islam Party for Freedom(PVV) of Geert Wilders is on course to form the next government. A political upset whose ramifications can cause instability in Europe and for the Dutch citizens.
Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) won 37 seats out of 150, ahead of a Labour/Green combination and the outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s conservatives. According to AFP, the digits are more than double the 17 the party secured in the last election. The result is a huge achievement considering the political landscape of the Netherlands. No far-right party in Dutch election history has secured more than 20% of the vote in a national election.
Who is Geert Wilders?
Wilders is a far-right, anti-Islam, and Eurosceptic politician who has been on the political scene of the Netherlands for decades. He is the founder and leader of the Freedom Party(PVV). A Politician often referred to as the Dutch Donald Trump due to his policies. He has been facing death threats for his anti-Islamic views and has been under the protection of police since 2004. In 2020, a court found him guilty of insult charges for the comments he made about Moroccan immigrants.
The complex Dutch system
Though Geert Wilders and his party won the majority of seats in the election, it is not enough to form a government. The coalition politics plays a vital role in the future of Geert Wilders to become the leader. For a party to gain an outright majority in the Dutch election, a total of 76 seats out of the 150 is required. Wilders will now seek for parties to form a coalition with.
Possible coalition partners consist of the conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the NSC party. The challenge for Wilders is to create an agreement with these parties as no party shares his anti-EU stand. The head of the New Social Contract party, which won an estimated 20 seats in the election, affirmed his interest to open talks with Wilders. The head of the Labour Party and Green Party, Frans Timmermans has already ruled out working with Wilders.
The process sounds unique and exhausting. A consensus in a coalition might take a while to form so the possibility of a new government will probably take a long time. Wilders in his victory speech, said that he is confident of reaching an agreement.
The possibility of ‘NEXIT’
Wilder’s approach towards the EU has always remained skeptical, and it is among his promises to leave the European Union. Geert Wilder aims to follow the path Britain took through the BREXIT campaign. He wants a referendum to leave the EU.
The Netherlands is the EU’s fifth-biggest economy and has proved influential in policymaking. A motion for exit from the union will be a setback for the EU. There is a huge possibility for Geert Wilders to join hands with other Eurosceptic leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban to create instability in the EU.
Concern for Muslim citizens in the Netherlands
Muslim citizens in the Netherlands expressed shock on Thursday at the election win of anti-Islamist Geert Wilders, who has previously called for the Koran and mosques to be banned in the Netherlands. The Dutch population consists of almost 18 million people.
In 2022, Wilders made the headlines in India after he defended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma over her controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad. He said that Nupur Sharma was a hero who spoke nothing but truth.
In his victory speech, Wilders promised to curb the immigration issue, which he referred to as the “asylum tsunami.” He said that the Dutch would be number one again and the people would have their country back.
