Anti-Islam Dutch politician Geert Wilders found guilty of discrimination

[Abdullah719]

LONDON — A Dutch court found anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders guilty Friday of inciting discrimination and hatred of Moroccans, a conviction he promptly denounced as “madness.”

Wilders, the controversial leader of the Netherlands’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV), said he plans to appeal the verdict delivered by a panel of three “hating” judges. His party is leading in polls ahead of the country’s upcoming general election in March.

“Three PVV hating judges declare that Moroccans are a race and convict me and half of the Netherlands. Madness,” he wrote in a Twitter message after the verdict.

In March 2014, Wilders sparked outrage at a rally in The Hague after asking supporters if they wanted more or fewer Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands.

After the crowd chanted, “Fewer! Fewer!” Wilders responded: “We’re going to organize that.”

The court imposed no punishment on Wilders, saying the conviction was itself punishment enough. The prosecution wanted to impose a fine of 5,000 euros ($5,288).

Wilders, 53, is one of a number of populist politicians across Europe who are riding a tide of anti-establishment anger, fueled in part by concerns over immigration and sluggish economies. If he becomes the next Dutch prime minister, Wilders has vowed to ban the Koran, close mosques and Islamic schools, and stop immigration from Muslim countries.

He has also said he wants the Netherlands to follow Britain’s example of leaving the European Union.

The flamboyant Dutch politician has been compared to Donald Trump, and sometimes uses the hashtag #MakeTheNetherlandsGreatAgain. On election night in the United States, he wrote on Twitter: “The people are taking their country back, so will we.”

Wilders said the conviction would do little to silence him.

“Millions of Dutch are sick and tired of political correctness,” he said with his usual rhetorical flair in a video posted Friday on YouTube. “You can count on one thing, I will never be silent.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...51a50a-2eb7-4efc-aeb5-be7e6727d80f_story.html

 

[MenInG]

The man should be put away in a mental asylum.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Populism has joined Alt-right as a watered down term for "send em back home" sentiment I see.

 

[PakLFC]

Man is a complete racist. He is against Muslim people as we are easily the largest minority in the west, plain and simple. Also, Muslim people have not completely sold out to westernization having retained much of our culture unlike other minorities. I have news for him, Muslim's ain't going anywhere!

 

[pakistan cricket fan]

I life in holland and i can tell you this guy is the biggest racist that you can get

 

[BouncerGuy]

Dutch election: Anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders wins dramatic victory

Veteran anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has won a dramatic victory in the Dutch general election, with almost all votes counted.

After 25 years in parliament, his Freedom party (PVV) is set to win 37 seats, well ahead of his nearest rival, a left-wing alliance.

"The PVV can no longer be ignored," he said. "We will govern."

His win has shaken Dutch politics and it will send a shock across Europe too.

But to fulfil his pledge to be "prime minister for everyone", he will have to persuade other parties to join him in a coalition. His target is 76 seats in the 150-seat parliament.

Mr Wilders, 60, harnessed widespread frustration about migration promising "borders closed", and he put on hold his promise to ban the Koran.

He was in combative mood in his victory speech: "We want to govern and... we will govern. [The seat numbers are] an enormous compliment but an enormous responsibility too."

Before the vote, the three other big parties ruled out taking part in a Wilders-led government because of his far-right policies. But that might change because of the scale of his victory.

The left-wing alliance under ex-EU commissioner Frans Timmermans has come a distant second with 25 seats, according to a forecast based on 94% of the vote.

He made clear he would have nothing to do with a Wilders-led government, promising to defend Dutch democracy and rule of law. "We won't let anyone in the Netherlands go. In the Netherlands everyone is equal," he told supporters.

That leaves third-placed centre-right liberal VVD under new leader Dilan Yesilgöz, and a brand new party formed by whistleblower MP Pieter Omtzigt in fourth.

Mr Wilders made a direct appeal to his political rivals to work together, and both Ms Yesilgöz and Mr Omtzigt congratulated him on his success.

Although Ms Yesilgöz doubts Mr Wilders will be able to find the numbers he needs, she says it is up to her party colleagues to decide how to respond. Before the election she insisted she would not serve in a Wilders-led cabinet, but did not rule out working with him if she won.

Mr Omtzigt said initially his New Social Contract party would not work with Mr Wilders, but now says they are "available to turn this trust [of voters] into action".

A Wilders victory will send shockwaves around Europe, as the Netherlands is one of the founding members of what became the European Union.

Nationalist and far-right leaders around Europe praised his achievement. In France, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen said it "confirms the growing attachment to the defence of national identities".

Mr Wilders wants to hold a referendum to leave the EU, dubbed a "Nexit", although he recognises there is no national mood to do so. He will have a hard time convincing any major prospective coalition partner to sign up to that.

He tempered his anti-Islam rhetoric in the run-up to the vote, saying there were more pressing issues at the moment and he was prepared to "put in the fridge" his policies on banning mosques and Islamic schools.

The strategy was a success, more than doubling his PVV party's numbers in parliament.

During the campaign Mr Wilders took advantage of widespread dissatisfaction with the previous government, which collapsed in a disagreement over asylum rules.

Dutch election: Anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders wins dramatic victory

The veteran politician says "we will govern" after his Freedom party doubles its seats in parliament.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

The Dutch Muslim Community will not be happy about this victory. His anti-Islam narrative can hurt Muslims around the world especially the Dutch Muslim community might have to face lots of Restraint after this victory.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Europe going back to the early 20th century

 

[cricketjoshila]

Looks like immigration and refugees are becoming a huge issue with europeans and those leaders who will restrict immigration and intake of refugees are gaining in popularity.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Watch him tone down now that he's in power. Its all about causing divide and friction in these times to gain votes.

 

[shortbread]

The right wing takeover of Europe is definitely happening. The silent majority are fed up and confused.

 

[KingKhanWC]

The right wing takeover of Europe is definitely happening. The silent majority are fed up and confused.

Fed up and confused about what exactly?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Fed up and confused about what exactly?

Seeing dark people in their lands who aren't subservient bootlickers.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Wilders is a Zionist puppet.

Now with their genocide in Gaza, they are working hard to place anti-Muslim nutjobs in power in Europe and any other nation they can. It helps them with support and Zionists will soon need military equipment from other nations.

The chess board is moving faster than ever, leading to a checkmate for the world into a war.

 

[shortbread]

Fed up and confused about what exactly?

Unemployment, inflation, housing issues, rising cost of living, plenty of problems. So the right wing direct this anger in the direction of a convenient bogeyman (eg. Immigrants, EU, muslims etc...) and help themselves come into power.

Tried, tested and proven formula.

 

[Champ_Pal]

The right wing takeover of Europe is definitely happening. The silent majority are fed up and confused.

People don’t want to become minority in their own lands. The left wing globalist agenda and anti-white narrative getting rejected at the polls.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Seeing dark people in their lands who aren't subservient bootlickers.

Ive been to Holland many times. So many Dutch women are married to Moroccons, Turks, Africans. There is certainly is change in demographics but this is the global world we live in. Wilders plays on the nationalistic rhetoric

Unemployment, inflation, housing issues, rising cost of living, plenty of problems. So the right wing direct this anger in the direction of a convenient bogeyman (eg. Immigrants, EU, muslims etc...) and help themselves come into power.

Tried, tested and proven formula.

Well those who voted for him as frankly dumber than dumber. Wilders will only make this worse, he is a paid Zionist, his only aim is to ruin Holland and support his masters.

 

[KingKhanWC]

People don’t want to become minority in their own lands. The left wing globalist agenda and anti-white narrative getting rejected at the polls.

Nearly 80% of Dutch are white dutch. 10% are from former colonised lands. More chance of Modi scoring a ton v Aus than them being a minority, a very daft and ignorant argument.

 

[pakistani pride]

LOL what do most here even know about the Netherlands.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Nearly 80% of Dutch are white dutch. 10% are from former colonised lands. More chance of Modi scoring a ton v Aus than them being a minority, a very daft and ignorant argument.

Immigrants have more kids than the natives. It’s not even close. Most don’t have enough kids because of the cost of living. While Dutch citizens are suffering the left government would give free housing and clothing to immigrants. Geert wilders ran on this and he won.
Europe is going right wing due to leftist policies failing miserably.

 

[hassan918]

Wilders Dutch vote: Centre-right VVD rules out role in cabinet​

The biggest party in the former Dutch government has ruled out a role in the next Dutch cabinet, after anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders' dramatic election victory.

In a blow to Mr Wilders' hopes of a majority, centre-right VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz said her party needed a different role, after losing 10 seats.

Political leaders met to consider their next steps in forming a coalition.

A scout from Mr Wilders' Freedom party will now assess who could take part.

The far-right PVV won 37 seats in Tuesday's election, far more than any other party, more than doubling its representation in the 150-seat parliament.

The scale of his victory has put pressure on centre and centre-right parties to help form a Wilders-led government.

The Dutch coalition process tends to take several months, and the first step in the process began on Friday with the appointment of Freedom party senator Gom van Strien as the scout who will hold initial talks with all the relevant parties.

But as party leaders assembled for exploratory talks in the parliament building, Ms Yesilgöz, whose VVD party came third in Wednesday's vote, announced she would not take part in the next administration because Dutch voters had given a "clear signal".

"The big winners of these elections are the PVV and [new centrist party] NSC," she told public broadcaster NOS. "But we will make a centre-right cabinet possible - so we will support that and won't block it."

Without the liberals, Mr Wilders will struggle to make up the 76 seats needed to form a majority. The only other potential partners are the newly formed centrist New Social Contract and the centre-right Farmer Citizens Movement.

However, Ms Yesilgöz emphasised that her party would be prepared to play a constructive role as a tacit partner in supporting a minority government in parliament. The VVD's 24 seats could in effect hand him a working majority.

Mr Wilders said he was very disappointed by the VVD's decision, which he complained had been taken "without taking part in negotiations for a minute... and this isn't what VVD-voters want either, I think".

He complained that forming a cabinet could now take months and Ms Yesilgöz had not made it any easier.

Commentators were quick to point out that Geert Wilders had himself propped up Mark Rutte's first VVD-led government as a tacit partner in 2010, but he triggered its collapse little more than a year and a half later when he refused to back austerity measures.

Mr Wilders badly needs the support of New Social Contract, formed only in August by whistleblower MP Pieter Omtzigt, and the BBB Farmer Citizens Movement, which has a strong representation in the upper house, the senate.

By deciding not to be part of the cabinet, Ms Yesilgöz has also increased pressure on Mr Omtzigt to join a coalition, because with 20 seats he is the only other top-four party still available.

Mr Omtzigt said her announcement, just before exploratory coalition talks were due to start, was odd and made the whole process more complicated.

BBB leader Caroline van der Plas complained that it was the centre-right liberals under previous leader Mark Rutte who had led to the cabinet's collapse in July in the first place, in a row over capping asylum numbers. Now again, she said, it was about playing party politics, "and not about what citizens want".

Her newly elected MPs were brought to the parliament building by seven tractors, one for each MP.

Source: BBC

 

[KingKhanWC]

Immigrants have more kids than the natives. It’s not even close. Most don’t have enough kids because of the cost of living. While Dutch citizens are suffering the left government would give free housing and clothing to immigrants. Geert wilders ran on this and he won.
Europe is going right wing due to leftist policies failing miserably.

Have you visited Holland often?

Try basic maths, it will take a very long time before immigrants become the majority in Holland. Wilders will only ruin this country, keep watching. Overall Holland is a small nation, pretty irrelevant in the world today.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Have you visited Holland often?

Try basic maths, it will take a very long time before immigrants become the majority in Holland. Wilders will only ruin this country, keep watching. Overall Holland is a small nation, pretty irrelevant in the world today.

Wiki says from 2010-2020, the population of native Dutch fell from 79% to 74%.

That's a 5% decrease in 1 decade. Not because Dutch population decreased. But because of immigration. You do not have to visit a country to know what their demographics are. You can do it from your home.

As you said, Holland is a small nation and their population is not much. It becomes even more important for them to save their culture and population from being overrun by foreigners.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Wiki says from 2010-2020, the population of native Dutch fell from 79% to 74%.

That's a 5% decrease in 1 decade. Not because Dutch population decreased. But because of immigration. You do not have to visit a country to know what their demographics are. You can do it from your home.

As you said, Holland is a small nation and their population is not much. It becomes even more important for them to save their culture and population from being overrun by foreigners.

View attachment 139413

Wiki can be edited by anyone.

But even if this is true, it will take over a hundred years before the minorities become majority, by then Europe could be in the dark ages again, most will move out.


Ive been to Holland over a dozen times. Ive seen their culture, you havent a clue. They dont have any particular culture, its a liberal secular nation where everyone is free to do as they please. Drugs and prostitution are legal, if you're worried about this culture vanishing, dont worry it wont as people from all backgrounds indulge in this.

Israel controls most of the political framework in Europe and the US, they wanted Wilders in power to help their own propaganda. Holland is small in terms of the global stage.

You prob havent left India, so you dont need to worry too much about the far right attacking you because of your skin colour,.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Wiki can be edited by anyone.

But even if this is true, it will take over a hundred years before the minorities become majority, by then Europe could be in the dark ages again, most will move out.


Ive been to Holland over a dozen times. Ive seen their culture, you havent a clue. They dont have any particular culture, its a liberal secular nation where everyone is free to do as they please. Drugs and prostitution are legal, if you're worried about this culture vanishing, dont worry it wont as people from all backgrounds indulge in this.

Israel controls most of the political framework in Europe and the US, they wanted Wilders in power to help their own propaganda. Holland is small in terms of the global stage.

You prob havent left India, so you dont need to worry too much about the far right attacking you because of your skin colour,.

It will not take 100 years for Dutch to become minorities in their own land. Once the native Dutch population falls below 60%, you will start seeing immigrants making most of the important political decisions. Once the immigrant population becomes close to 50%, there will be demands of separate nations. Its an irreversible change. This drama has played out before in history in Asia and Africa.

Looks like you want Dutch citizens to play the wait and watch game as they are still in majority. But they are smart for once and took their future in their own hands.

 

[KingKhanWC]

It will not take 100 years for Dutch to become minorities in their own land. Once the native Dutch population falls below 60%, you will start seeing immigrants making most of the important political decisions. Once the immigrant population becomes close to 50%, there will be demands of separate nations. Its an irreversible change. This drama has played out before in history in Asia and Africa.

Looks like you want Dutch citizens to play the wait and watch game as they are still in majority. But they are smart for once and took their future in their own hands.

Ok please give me a date when?

I know many Dutch people, you've never left India. You may wish for brown people in Holland to be attacked but remember to look in the mirror, if anything Indians are hated most in Europe, in case you get a visa for travel one day.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Ok please give me a date when?

I know many Dutch people, you've never left India. You may wish for brown people in Holland to be attacked but remember to look in the mirror, if anything Indians are hated most in Europe, in case you get a visa for travel one day.

You are giving anecdotal evidence while I gave you stats from wiki.

The immigration issue applies to everyone that is not Dutch. Not just Indians or Africans. Dutch has every right to be apprehensive about mass immigration.

 

[James]

I agree that he’s taken advantage of the Israel-Palestine issue to boost his seats number. No doubt that it’s a convincing electoral victory which is the culmination of his long career, but he may struggle to form a functioning government given that the other parties are reluctant to work with him. He would have to temper his more extreme policies in order to compromise with coalition partners.

 

[cricketjoshila]

People don’t want to become minority in their own lands. The left wing globalist agenda and anti-white narrative getting rejected at the polls.

Basically this.

Natives are fed up with uncontrolled immigration to their country and they are fed up of these asylum seekers who are invading Europe.

This is straining their economy. The resultant inflation, unemployment etc is making the natives ask, if the country is struggling economically why should it pay for these illegal immigrants and refugees?

Skilled legal immigration is a different thing. But this uncontrolled immigration of asylum seekers who literally invade Europe on boats isn't sustainable.

Sooner rather than later the native population is going to forcefully stop this.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Wiki says from 2010-2020, the population of native Dutch fell from 79% to 74%.

That's a 5% decrease in 1 decade. Not because Dutch population decreased. But because of immigration. You do not have to visit a country to know what their demographics are. You can do it from your home.

As you said, Holland is a small nation and their population is not much. It becomes even more important for them to save their culture and population from being overrun by foreigners.

View attachment 139413

No one wants to become the next Lebanon.

 

[cricketjoshila]

I agree that he’s taken advantage of the Israel-Palestine issue to boost his seats number. No doubt that it’s a convincing electoral victory which is the culmination of his long career, but he may struggle to form a functioning government given that the other parties are reluctant to work with him. He would have to temper his more extreme policies in order to compromise with coalition partners.

What if Dutch vote him with even Higher numbers next?

Europe has to take a middle road.

Uncontrolled immigration isn't good for any country or society.

 

[Champ_Pal]

What if Dutch vote him with even Higher numbers next?

Europe has to take a middle road.

Uncontrolled immigration isn't good for any country or society.

Uncontrolled illegal immigration is encouraged by Left to further their globalist agenda. After all, these illegals are Lefts future vote bank when all these illegals become naturalized.

 

[I think therfore I am]

Why many of these dark people going to Netherlands illegally? Then begging to stay there? Enjoying the fruits of a advanced developed country that the natives created.

First they enter illegally.

Then they beg to be allowed to stay.

Then they enjoy the facilities.

Then when the natives don't want any more illegal immigrants accuse them of racism.

It's called Karma.

 

[cricketjoshila]

It's called Karma.

Nothing about Karma here.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Not even if it's 100s of 1000s invading Europe from North Africa and Arab lands.

You’d never use the word “invading” for your own countrymen who pay Mexican gangs to help them get into the USA.

Even the Mexican’s are being out numbered at the border crossing

 

[KingKhanWC]

No one wants to become the next Lebanon.

lol You are sounding as if you live in Switzerland, reminder you live in a 3rd world nation...called India.

Holland even with 50% immigrants would take 100 years to drop below India as a livable modern nation.

Remember it was the invaders who made India the richest nation.

 

[cricketjoshila]

lol You are sounding as if you live in Switzerland, reminder you live in a 3rd world nation...called India.

Holland even with 50% immigrants would take 100 years to drop below India as a livable modern nation.

Remember it was the invaders who made India the richest nation.

Tell all this to the Dutch who have voted in a PM to stop immigration.

Its funny when a Pakistani calls any country third world. Why don't you look at Pakistan before calling anyone third world.

Invaders came to loot India. They were attracted by India's wealth.

 

[cricketjoshila]

This thread is about Netherlands and they clearly don't want any more illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

This thread is about Netherlands and they clearly don't want any more illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.

They don't want legal immigrants either of a certain type. Cheap labour in call centres or the medical profession are denying jobs to hard working home based professionals who are being undercut by poorly qualified immigrants being pushed onto the honest and steadfast British people who don't the shape-shifting policies of their untrusted PM.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders has withdrawn a 2018 proposal to ban mosques and the Quran

Far-right Dutch election winner Geert Wilders made a key concession to potential coalition partners on Monday, announcing that he's withdrawing legislation that he proposed in 2018 that calls for a ban on mosques and the Quran.

The move came a day before talks to form the next government were set to resume following the November election. The abandonment of the bill could be critical in gaining the trust and support of three more mainstream parties that Wilders wants to co-opt into a coalition along with his Party for Freedom, known by its Dutch acronym PVV.

One of those parties' leaders, Pieter Omtzigt of the reformist New Social Contract, has expressed fears that some of Wilders’ policies breach the Dutch Constitution that enshrines liberties, including the freedom of religion.
During a parliamentary debate last year after the PVV won 37 seats in the 150-seat lower house of the Dutch parliament in the Nov. 22 general election, Wilders flagged a softening of his party's strident anti-Islam stance.

“Sometimes I will have to withdraw proposals and I will do that,” Wilders said in the debate. “I will show the Netherlands, the legislature, Mr. Omtzigt's party — anybody who wants to hear it — that we will adapt our rules to the constitution and bring our proposals in line with it.”

Wilders is due to resume coalition talks on Tuesday with Omtzigt, and the leaders of two other parties — the center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the Farmer Citizen Movement led by Caroline van der Plas.

Among three pieces of legislation axed by by Wilders Party for Freedom was one dating back to 2018 that proposes banning “Islamic expressions.” The text of the bill labels Islam a “violent, totalitarian ideology” and proposes bans on mosques, the Quran, Islamic schools and the wearing of burqas and niqabs.

Wilders didn't immediately comment further on the decision to withdraw the legislation, which his party announced in a brief statement.

The three laws were proposed to parliament by Wilders in 2017, 2018 and 2019, but never garnered a majority in the lower house.

In an assessment of the proposed ban on Islamic expressions, the Council of State, an independent watchdog that evaluates legislation, called on Wilders to scrap it.

“The Advisory Division advises the initiators to abandon the bill,” the council said in advice published in 2019. “It is not compatible with the core elements of the democratic constitutional state; elements that the initiators intend to protect.”


Source: The Independent

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Dutch anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders abandons PM bid

Dutch anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has abandoned his bid to become prime minister, despite his party's dramatic victory in the 2023 elections.

"I can only become prime minister if ALL parties in the coalition support it. That was not the case," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

His Freedom Party (PVV) won the most votes last year - but needed support of other parties to form a coalition.

Marathon talks with three other parties look to have failed.

The negotiator leading the latest round of talks which concluded on Tuesday, is due to share his report with parliament on Thursday.

"I would like a right-wing cabinet. Less asylum and immigration. Dutch on 1. The love for my country and voter is great and more important than my own position," Mr Wilders wrote in his post on Wednesday evening.

Dutch anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders abandons PM bid

His party won a dramatic victory in the 2023 elections - but marathon coalition talks have failed.

www.bbc.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

Netherlands set for right-wing government after Wilders strikes deal​

Dutch nationalist Geert Wilders on Wednesday said a deal had been reached to form what was set to be the most right-wing government in the Netherlands in decades, almost six months after a major election victory.

Wilders, who has influenced Dutch immigration policy from the opposition benches since 2006 and is known for his outspoken views on Islam, announced the successful outcome between four parties.

"We have an agreement among negotiators," Wilders told journalists in The Hague.

Talks had dragged on for months since Wilders' upset election victory on Nov. 22, with immigration, finances and climate among the key sticking points.

"We're going to form a government," said Pieter Omtzigt, leader of the centrist NSC party. "We'll wait and see who Wilders proposes as a prime minister candidate."

A Labour party veteran who led some of the coalition negotiations, Ronald Plasterk, was named by Dutch media as a likely candidate to head a new government but that has not been confirmed officially.

A breakthrough was reached in March as Wilders, 60, toned down anti-EU and anti-Islam rhetoric, forfeited the position of prime minister and dropped opposition to all military support for Ukraine.

The announcement followed 16 hours of talks into the early hours of Wednesday during which key financial differences were ironed out.

The deal brings together outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte's centre-right VVD, the new NSC party and farmers' protest party BBB in a coalition with a strong majority of 88 seats in the 150-seat Lower House.

After Rutte announced his departure from Dutch politics last year, Wilders rode a wave of anti-immigration and anti-establishment sentiment to his largest-ever electoral win, blaming a housing shortage on flows of asylum seekers.

He also drew on widespread concerns about the cost of living and the overburdened healthcare system.

Details of the government pact were not immediately announced, but the incoming government is widely expected to impose stricter asylum migration policies.

Wilders, who has close ties with other European populists including Hungary's Viktor Orban, has also made promises of lavish spending on healthcare and a lowering of the retirement age. But budget constraints make it unlikely the other parties will all support these plans.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dutch-nationalist-wilders-says-deal-right-wing-government-is-very-close-2024-05-15/?taid=6644d75b304bfc00011dbee5&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

 

[FearlessRoar]

Netherlands kicks off EU election as Geert Wilders eyes far-right win​

Dutch nationalist Geert Wilders looked set for new electoral gains on Thursday as the Netherlands kicks off four days of voting in the European Parliament election held across the 27 EU member states.

A nationwide opinion poll published on the eve of the vote put Wilders’ anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV) in a tie for first place with the Labour/GreenLeft combination, with both projected to get 8 seats.

This would mean a huge gain for Wilders, who failed to secure a seat in the previous EU election in 2019.

Labour and GreenLeft won 6 and 3 seats respectively four years ago. The two left-wing parties run on a joint ticket this year, but will have separate factions in parliament after the vote.

Wilders is riding a wave of support in the Netherlands, where his promises of a crackdown on asylum migration already brought him a large win at the general election in November last year.

Following months of tense talks, the 60-year old political veteran last month secured a deal with three other conservative parties to form a right-wing government, which is expected to be sworn in by the end of the month.

That coalition said it would take a tough stance in Brussels, seeking exemptions on EU asylum and environmental rules and a significant cut in the Dutch contribution to the EU budget.

Wilders for years said the Dutch should leave the union, but changed his tone in the run-up to this election and dropped his aim of holding a referendum on the country’s EU membership.

Instead, he said his party would now aim to limit the EU’s powers from within parliament, joining a possible coalition with the parties of Italy’s and France’s far-right leaders Giorgia Meloni and Marine Le Pen.

An exit poll will be published when voting closes in the Netherlands Thursday at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT). Results will be announced when polls have closed in all member states, Sunday at 2100 GMT.

Netherlands kicks off EU election as Geert Wilders eyes far-right win

Wilders is riding a wave of support in the Netherlands, where his promises of a crackdown on asylum migration already brought him a large win at the general election in November.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Two men are standing trial in absentia at a high-security court near Amsterdam for inciting the murder of the far-right politician.

Dutch prosecutors have demanded a 14-year sentence for two Pakistani men over allegations that they sought to incite the murder of far-right politician Geert Wilders.

The pair, a religious leader and a political party chief, were tried in absentia on Monday on charges they urged followers to kill Wilders, whose party joined the government for the first time this year after winning the most votes (23.5 percent) in last year’s elections.

Prosecutors charged Muhammed Ashraf Jalali, a 56-year-old religious leader, with promising his followers they would be “rewarded in the afterlife” if they killed the anti-Islam politician.

Saad Hussain Rizvi, leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan party, is also suspected of calling for Wilders’s murder.

The trial occurred at a highly secure court near Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.

The calls were among a rash of threats made after Wilders sought to arrange a competition for cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
“This case has had a huge impact on me and my family,” Wilders said. “I’m asking this court to send a strong signal … that calling a fatwa in this country is unacceptable.”

Wilders used the Islamic legal term to mean a death sentence, but “fatwa” does not mean capital punishment. It is a decree made by an Islamic religious authority or court that is issued by a mufti, an expert on the law of the Quran.

Dutch authorities have asked Islamabad for legal assistance to question the suspects and demand they appear in court.

However, no treaty exists with Pakistan for mutual legal assistance, and the two men did not appear in the dock. Neither man had legal representation present.

Death threats and state protection​

A year ago, former international Pakistani cricketer Khalid Latif was sentenced to 12 years in the Netherlands for incitement to murder Wilders although he is thought unlikely to serve any of the term.

Wilders cancelled the cartoon contest after protests broke out in Pakistan. The planned competition “caused a lot of unrest within the Muslim community. He [Wilders] received hundreds, if not thousands of death threats,” said the judge, who asked not to be identified.

In the Netherlands, the plan to stage the contest was widely criticised as needlessly antagonising Muslims.
But the call to kill Wilders appeared to resonate as a Pakistani man was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2019 for plotting his assassination in the wake of the cancelled contest.

Wilders said in court he had planned the contest because “it’s unacceptable that you are not allowed freedom of speech … in countries where it is permitted by law.”

“For the past 20 years, I have been robbed of my freedom because of what I think, say, write and do,” he said.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024...kistanis-for-incitement-to-kill-geert-wilders

 

[BouncerGuy]

Dutch government collapses after far-right leader quits coalition

The Dutch government has collapsed after Geert Wilders withdrew his far-right party from the governing coalition following a row over migration.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed he was stepping down on Tuesday and offered the resignation of the cabinet to King Willem-Alexander.

In televised remarks following an emergency cabinet meeting, Schoof said Wilders' decision to withdraw the support of his PVV party was "irresponsible and unnecessary".

"As far as I'm concerned, this shouldn't have happened," he added.

The governing coalition was in place for less than one year.

The row which led to its collapse came after Wilders pushed for 10 additional asylum measures, including a freeze on applications, halting the construction of reception centres and limiting family reunification.

Schoof had made a last-minute appeal to coalition party leaders on Tuesday morning, but the meeting lasted just one minute before Wilders walked out, ending the coalition.

"No signature for our asylum plans. PVV leaves the coalition," said Wilders on X.

There was shock and anger among political leaders, many of whom pointed out that several of Wilders' demands were similar to policies already in the coalition agreement, and that they would not stand in the PVV's way to implement them.

Many of the additional proposals put forward by Wilders had been dismissed during coalition talks because of legal concerns.

Wilders' decision has put an end to an uneasy governing coalition which was born in July 2024 after months of political wrangling following elections the previous year.

His anti-immigration, far-right PVV was the largest party. The other members were the conservative-liberal VVD, the Farmers' Citizen Movement (BBB) and the centrist New Social Contract.

From the start the coalition seemed a marriage of convenience, characterised by infighting and appeared to struggle to push through any of policies it had proudly promoted.

Following its collapse, Wilders' former coalition partners accused him of engineering the crisis. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz said the move was "super irresponsible", adding: "This wasn't about asylum at all."

"I think Wilders is betraying the Netherlands," said deputy Prime Minister Mona Keijzer from the BBB.

But Wilders appears to feel emboldened. On Tuesday he told reporters that he intended to become prime minister of the Netherlands "and ensure that the PVV becomes bigger than ever in the next elections".

Sandra Phlippen, the chief economist for ABN AMRO bank, said the immediate economic impact of the cabinet's collapse appeared minimal because during its 11 months in office the government had "barely made any concrete plans".

Polls show the far right and Green-Left parties are neck-and-neck, with migration and cost-of-living issues fuelling political volatility across Europe.

Wilders wanted the government to collapse as the support for his Freedom Party continues to drop in the polls, according to Armida van Rij, the Head of the Europe Programme at Chatham House.

With the Nato summit due to be held in the Hague at the end of the month, Schoof's ministers will seek to remain in power in a caretaker capacity until a date is set for the Netherlands to return to the polls - likely in the autumn, according to Dutch media.

In the Dutch political system, becoming prime minister requires forming a majority coalition in the 150-seat parliament.

Even if Wilders again surpasses the political pundits expectations, his decision to collapse the government is being seen as reckless - and perceptions he is putting personal ambition above national stability could further complicate his ability to form alliances after the next election.

The parties that were reluctant or refused to go into government with Wilders after the last election are likely to find that kind of partnership even less attractive now.

In addition, by toppling the coalition over the issue of asylum, it is likely Wilders will put it at the centre of his upcoming election campaign.

However, given that his party had been responsible for asylum and immigration for almost a year, there are no guarantees that such a gamble will pay off.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Trump Meets 'Nice Guy' Wilders On NATO Sidelines

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders revealed Wednesday he had held an "excellent" meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

"Thank you so much Mr President... for the excellent meeting we just had and our discussion about the need for tougher immigration laws," said Wilders on X, sharing a selfie of the pair.

The meeting will likely raise eyebrows in the host country. Wilders is the leader of the largest party in the Dutch parliament but holds no official government position.

He upended Dutch politics earlier this month when he pulled his far-right PVV Freedom Party out of the shaky coalition, bringing down the government.

His withdrawal happened only three weeks before the NATO summit and sparked fresh elections set for October 29.

Wilders has made no secret of his admiration for the US president, who in turn has cozied up to Europe's far-right politicians.

Trump said he "didn't know" Wilders, whom he described as a "very nice guy".

The US leader said he was "not upset" by the anti-Islam views of Wilders.

"It's just his view. He's unhappy with the way things are going in this country," said Trump.

AFP