After the triumphant election victory of right-wing populist Geert Wilders, the Netherlands is expecting difficult coalition negotiations. The right-wing extremist wants to govern with his Islamophobic party in the future and become the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is stepping down from the national political stage after a record 13 years in office.
Potential partners for Wilders are the right-wing liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the recently founded New Social Contract (NSC) of the former Christian Democrat Pieter Omtzigt and the Bauer Citizens Movement (BBB), which primarily aims for a less strict climate policy.
Wilders assured on election night that he did not want to push through his most radical demands, such as a ban on the Koran and the closure of mosques. “We remain within the limits of the Basic Law,” he asserted. “I will be a prime minister for all Dutch people – no matter where you come from and what religion you have.” In Wednesday’s parliamentary election, Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV) won 37 of the 150 parliamentary seats. The red-green alliance of former EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans followed in second and third place with 25 mandates and the VVD with 24.
Wilders is allowed to explore
In the Netherlands, the initiative for exploratory talks traditionally lies with the largest party and thus with Wilders. Before the election, Rutte’s successor as VVD leader, Dilan Yesilgöz, had ruled out participating in the government under Prime Minister Wilders, but on election night she was noticeably less clear.
Omtzigt was also fundamentally open. During the election campaign, however, he said that Wilders’ views were partly incompatible with the constitution, which is why he was not an option as a partner. BBB boss Caroline van der Plas would like to govern with Wilders.
Wilders toasted his electoral triumph with his followers in The Hague on Thursday. “It worked,” he said. “We got 37 seats, can you imagine that?” Now his party will stand up for normal Dutch people who are fed up with the politics of the past few years. His goals are a stricter asylum policy, more housing and a better health system. He is ready to work with other parties. “The Dutchman deserves it, and then it will happen that
Horror at Wilders success
Refugee organizations and Muslim associations expressed their horror at the right-wing populist’s success. Muhsin Köktas, head of a Muslim advocacy group, said that if Wilders implements his election program, Muslims in the Netherlands will no longer be able to practice their religion freely.
Because of his anti-Islamic views, Wilders has been in the crosshairs of radical Islamists for 20 years and is under 24-hour surveillance. In the most recent election campaign, he adopted a more conciliatory tone because he saw an opportunity to actually come into government for the first time in a long time. In 2010 he temporarily tolerated a minority government under Prime Minister Mark Rutte. But the collaboration failed in 2012.
Rutte’s current four-party coalition collapsed in July in a dispute over migration policy. As a result, he announced his retirement from politics after 13 years as head of government. However, he wants to remain in office until a new government takes office.
