Far-right firebrand Geert Wilders faced an uphill struggle yesterday to woo rivals for a coalition government after a “monster victory” in Dutch elections that shook the Netherlands and Europe.
His Freedom Party (PVV) won 37 seats in the Dutch parliament, more than doubling his share from the last election and outstripping opponents, according to near complete results.
A left-wing bloc trailed far behind on 25 seats, with the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) on 24, a catastrophic result for the party of outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Photo: AFP
Wilders, 60, now has the daunting task of trying to form a working coalition, courting rivals that categorically ruled out serving in a PVV-led government.
The unexpected landslide win prompted immediate congratulations from fellow far-right leaders in France and Hungary but would likely raise fears in Brussels — Wilders is anti-EU and wants a vote on a “Nexit” to leave the bloc.
Although he softened his anti-Islam rhetoric during the campaign, the PVV program pledges a ban on the Koran, mosques and Islamic headscarves. As a result, Muslim community leaders in the Netherlands voiced concern.
“I woke up this morning with an unpleasant feeling. Actually also in shock,” said Habib el-Kaddouri from the SMN association of Moroccan Dutch.
“Some people are scared, others uncertain about their future, about what the result means for their citizenship or place in Dutch society,” he added.
Lizette Keyzer, a 60-year-old business manager from Enschede, said she had “heart palpitations” when the exit poll results came out.
The country “is going in a right-wing direction. We hope that this does not completely become the case,” Keyzer added.
Addressing cheering supporters in The Hague after exit polls, Wilders doubled down on his anti-immigrant rhetoric, saying the Dutch had voted to stem the “tsunami” of asylum-seekers.
He later told reporters he wanted to be “prime minister for all Dutch” and would “work hard with other parties” to form a coalition.
However, it is not clear how he can scrape together the 76 seats he needs for a majority in the 150-seat parliament.
Former European commissioner Frans Timmermans, whose Green/Labor bloc came in second, immediately ruled out cooperation, saying it was now their job to “defend democracy” in the country.
Anti-corruption champion Pieter Omtzigt, whose New Social Contract party scored 20 seats, indicated he was “available” for talks, admitting they would not be easy.
Dilan Yesilgoz, who led the centre-right VVD to a disappointing 24 seats, was coy on election night, saying Wilders would have to see if he can forge a coalition.
She first opened the door to Wilders joining a VVD-led government but has stressed she would not serve under him.
“It will be entirely up to the VVD,” said Sarah de Lange, professor of political pluralism at the University of Amsterdam. “A big issue will be who will be prime minister, because with Wilders as prime minister, the Netherlands has an impossible situation internationally.”
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