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Rabat – The Netherlands witnessed a dramatic reshaping of its political landscape on November 22, as Geert Wilders far-right and Islamophobic “Party for Freedom” (PVV) clinched a substantial victory in the legislative elections, securing 37 seats to become the largest political party in Dutch parliament.
Comparable to Donald Trump in his divisive rhetoric and physical appearance, notably with his peroxide hair, Wilders has been a lightning rod for controversy, advocating for cartoon contests of Prophet Muhammad and disparaging remarks about Moroccans.
Wilders has consistently stayed outside the norm for Dutch politics, calling for the Dutch to leave the EU, dubbed “Nexit,” and repeatedly calling for policies targeting Dutch Muslims, which is expressly banned by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Dutch constitution which guarantees freedom of religion.
An influx in immigration in 2022, largely due to the Ukraine war, and relative economic hardship connected to the same conflict, appear to have driven Dutch voters to look for answers from what was long the fringe of Dutch politics.
Despite being one of the richest countries in the world, the Dutch elections saw several political parties present a narrative of imminent crisis, while presenting the introduction of a limit to immigration as the solution. With a flurry of isolationist policies being presented to Dutch voters, it appears mainstream political parties contributed greatly to the PVV’s victory.
Shock victory
Yet, in advance of this year’s Dutch parliamentary elections, Wilders was seen as a long-shot, as he uncharacteristically dialed down his Islamophobic rhetoric ahead of the national poll. Some commentators in the Netherlands jokingly dubbed him “Milders” after he presented a less divisive form of his decades-long attack on Dutch Muslims.
Those jokes quickly faded however, after strong debate performances by Wilders catapulted him up the national polls in the days leading up to the election. After last night’s exit poll was released, many across the Dutch political landscape reacted with shock to the PVV victory, with the left vowing to fight to protect the rights of Dutch Muslims and immigrants.
After years of pushing the Dutch overton-window to the right on the issue of immigration, perpetual critic Wilders will now be given the opportunity to form a government in the coming months. Several center-right parties have already indicated they would be willing to work with the populist PVV.
This triumph not only solidifies his party’s position but also signals a marked shift towards more right-wing ideologies in Dutch politics. Most parties in the Dutch election advocated for severely limiting immigration, yet Wilders’ PVV led the pack in demonizing refugees and migrants as the sole reason for Dutch voters’ relative economic hardships.
Anti-islam rethoric
At the core of Wilders’ agenda is a vehement anti-immigration stance, marked by calls for the reinstatement of Dutch border controls, the detention and expulsion of illegal immigrants, and a ban on wearing headscarves in government buildings.
His manifesto for the PVV claims that “asylum seekers are enjoying opulent buffets on cruise ships while Dutch families are tightening their belts,” and describing the Netherlands’ welcoming of 220,000 immigrants and refugees in 2022 as an “immigration tsunami.”
The international community is closely monitoring Wilders ascent to power, as his victory aligns him with far-right leaders across Europe, receiving accolades from Marine Le Pen in France and Viktor Orban in Hungary.
Wilders’ two-decade old narrative revolves around combating what he terms the “Islamic invasion,” or the “islamification of the Netherlands,” adding a layer of complexity to the already delicate tapestry of European politics.
However, as Wilders stands on the cusp of shaping the future of Dutch governance, formidable challenges loom on the horizon. Convicted of insulting Moroccans and living under police protection since 2004 due to persistent death threats, Wilders now faces the arduous task of forming a coalition government.
European trend
The far-reaching implications of this electoral upheaval extend beyond Dutch borders. As the country grapples with the aftermath of this seismic political shift, questions arise about the potential impact on European unity and the broader global political equilibrium.
The rise of Wilders and the PVV is not confined to the local intricacies of Dutch governance; rather, it serves as a potent signal of a larger undercurrent that challenges European democracies. The Dutch electoral upheaval and the ascent of Geert Wilders and the PVV stand as integral components in the broader narrative of a far-reaching European trend.
This political seismic shift in the Netherlands aligns with a growing pattern across western Europe, where far-right parties are progressively gaining ground in Italy, France, Greece, Austria, Belgium…
These parties, mirroring the nativist and populist sentiments embodied by figures like Wilders, are not confined to the fringes but are shaping the policies of mainstream right-wing parties.
Over the past two years the European far-right has gained prominence in Italy, Hungary, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Spain and Germany. For half a century following World War II, support for the far-right was considered a taboo, yet it appears the continent is once again fertile ground for hate-driven narratives amid an economic downturn.
