Dutch far-right populist – and anti-European Union – Geert Wilders, who promised to suspend all immigration to the Netherlands, had a big victory in this Wednesday’s parliamentary elections (22), according to an exit poll. urn.
Exceeding all predictions, the survey shows that Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) won 35 of the 150 seats in parliament, 10 ahead of second place, the Labor/Green Left coalition of former European Union Commissioner Frans Timmermans. The margin was much higher than expected.
The acronym of the current Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, the conservative VVD – People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, came in third place, with 24 seats, according to the same analysis.
Exit polls are generally reliable, with a margin of error of approximately two seats.
In The Hague, Wilders’ fans burst into applause and celebrated. In his victory speech, Wilders promised to put an end to the “tsunami of asylum and immigration requests” and promised to return the country to the Dutch.
History of controversies
Wilders’ inflammatory statements about Islam have earned him death threats. He had to live under heavy police protection for years.
Outside the Netherlands, his comments about the Prophet Muhammad led to violent protests in countries with Muslim populations, including Pakistan, Indonesia and Egypt.
A self-proclaimed admirer of Hungarian leader Victor Orbán, Wilders is also anti-European Union and insists that the Netherlands control its borders, significantly reduce its payments to the bloc and block the entry of new members.
On more than one occasion, Wilders has said that the Netherlands should stop supplying weapons to Ukraine, claiming that the country needs them to be able to defend itself.
Difficulties in forming a new government
Immigration, an issue that resulted in the fall of Rutte’s government in July after 13 years in power, has been fundamental in the campaign. Along with combating climate change and the rising cost of living, restricting the entry of immigrants are the main issues for the Dutch.
The expectation is that Wilders will try to form a right-wing government with the VVD and the recently launched centrist party known as the “New Social Contract”. Together, they would hold 79 seats, three more than those needed for a majority in parliament.
“I am confident we can reach an agreement,” Wilders said in his victory speech. “I fully understand that we should not take any measures that are unconstitutional.”
Mark Rutte will continue as Prime Minister on an interim basis until the new government is formed, probably in the first half of 2024.
Source: CNN Brasil
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