Geert Wilders, the Dutch far-right leader, has succeeded in a cavalcade of political provocation. As the longest-serving member of the Dutch parliament, he has been turning heads with his radical proposals. Right-wing populist Geert Wilders heads the Party for Freedom (PVV), which just last week held 37 of the 150 seats in the Dutch parliament. He is now calling for radical reforms to the country’s immigration system. His positions and public imperatives have led to the fracturing of his Keystone-like coalition government. This unforeseen turmoil has created the conditions for early elections in the Netherlands.
In an unexpected and fearless move, Wilders withdrew the PVV from the four-party coalition cabinet. He’d previously threatened to pull out if his partners didn’t support his draconian immigration proposal. The plan consists of a slate of draconian steps to harden our immigration system and dramatically cut immigration to safeguard our country’s borders. Proposals have ranged from turning back all asylum seekers to closing refugee hostels. They propose forcibly returning Syrian refugees to their home country. Popular anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has called for an immediate suspension of EU asylum quotas. He similarly suggested deploying the military to patrol the borders.
Wilders’ inflammatory rhetoric around his harsh anti-immigration policies has understandably caused an uproar. He has labeled Islam as “fascist” and “backward.” Moreover, he added fuel to the fire by calling the Prophet Muhammad a “paedophile.” His proposals go far beyond the realm of the acceptable and include a ban on mosques, headscarves, and the Qur’an. Their very political opponents have used these statements and the accompanying plans to attack them mercilessly. Even other members of his own governing coalition have come out in the backlash.
The consequences of Wilders’ actions have already resulted in a major political crisis in the Netherlands. Senior figures from other political parties, including the VVD, BBB, and NSC, have accused Wilders of “putting himself first” and “running away when things get difficult.” These actions have naturally raised questions about his dedication to enforcing good governance. Particularly in a parliamentary system that by its design usually requires coalition-building, compromise is everything.
In an attempt to defend his position, Wilders stated, “I signed up for the toughest asylum policy, not the downfall of the Netherlands.” Despite this assertion, his approach has alienated potential allies and left the future of his party uncertain. According to many polls, if elections were to be held today, the PVV would be able to maintain its lead. Their congressional representation would drop to just 30 congressional seats.
The political landscape is different now. Wilders’ toxic ideas are resonating with voters fed up with parties that have failed them. His party’s focus on strict immigration control taps into broader concerns about social cohesion and national identity among certain voter demographics.
The country is careening toward what looks to be early elections. Wilders’ hardline approach on its ability to shape public opinion, analysts think that the fate of the entire coalition is at stake. His gamble to sacrifice a coalition government for his aggressive immigration agenda will likely blow up in his face. It is not yet clear how the electorate would respond to his incendiary, racist rhetoric and his white nationalist policies.