ROTTERDAM-NETHERLANDS: In the final stretch of the Dutch election cycle, an unforeseen wave of backing for far-right firebrand Geert Wilders has injected a jolt of intensity into the country's political landscape.
Wilders, leading the anti-Islam and anti-EU Freedom Party (PVV), has experienced a late-stage surge in support, with recent polling positioning the PVV neck-and-neck with the conservative-liberal VVD party led by outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
This eleventh-hour shift in the polls has thrown the Dutch electoral race into a dramatic and uncertain phase. Voters are set to cast their ballots on Wednesday to select all 150 members of parliament, with the election results anticipated to be unveiled later the same night.
What was previously a three-way competition since its commencement in July—pitting Rutte's incumbent VVD against a Labour-Green alliance led by EU heavyweight Frans Timmermans and the newly-formed center-right party helmed by outsider Pieter Omtzigt--has now been disrupted by Wilders' party gaining unexpected ground.
Dilan YeÅŸilgöz, the new leader of Rutte’s party, indicated early in the campaign a willingness to include the PVV in coalition discussions, deviating from Rutte's stance. Consequently, Wilders has adopted a more tempered approach, expressing his readiness for coalition talks.
However, despite the softened tone, the PVV's electoral platform still embraces anti-Islam sentiments, advocating for the prohibition of mosques and the Quran, as well as the ban of Islamic headscarves in governmental premises. Wilders remains a staunch euroskeptic, advocating for an EU departure through a referendum.
The potential victory of Wilders' party, should it secure the most seats in the proportional representation vote, could significantly impact the Netherlands' political landscape.
Geert Wilders, a long-standing critic of Islam since founding his party in 2006, is a prominent figure within the European far-right, sharing political affiliations with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and France's Marine Le Pen. His history includes a 2014 conviction for discrimination after calling for "fewer Moroccans."
In the past, Wilders' rhetoric and beliefs prompted international attention, drawing parallels to the rise of nationalist populism seen with Brexit in the U.K. and Donald Trump's election in the U.S.
A seasoned debater from The Hague, Wilders maintains strong opinions, exemplified by his recent exchange during a debate where he questioned the presence of international students in the Netherlands, a demographic he seeks to restrict.
His extreme views have necessitated continuous police protection for over a decade due to threats linked to the 2004 killing of filmmaker Theo van Gogh. Wilders and his spouse have lived in secure locations since.
However, his divisive politics have not only polarized the Netherlands but also fractured his own family, as his brother publicly dissuaded support for him, severing ties. Additionally, Wilders has faced restrictions abroad, notably being banned from entering the U.K. in 2009 by the British government.
In recent Dutch politics, Wilders briefly encountered challenges from younger far-right figures, such as Thierry Baudet, whose Forum for Democracy led the 2019 provincial elections. Similarly, Caroline van der Plas and her right-wing populist BBB Farmer-Citizen Movement experienced a surge in provincial elections earlier this year but have since lost momentum, currently polling in sixth place.
The surprising surge in public backing for Wilders’ party was initially highlighted by pollster Maurice de Hond, whose recent survey of nearly 7,000 individuals on November 17 indicated a five-seat surge for Wilders, placing the PVV in a competitive position against the VVD for 26 out of the 150 parliamentary seats up for grabs.
Argentina Elects Javier Milei as President Amid Economic Discontent
Canada MP Chandra Arya Condemns Hate Crimes Against Hindu-Canadians, Calls for Action
