Geert Wilders, the far-right leader, has emerged as the surprising winner in the Netherlands elections, securing a resounding victory for his anti-EU party. With 37 seats in the Dutch parliament, Wilders’ anti-Islam Party for Freedom is on track to become the largest party in the house. However, in order to fulfill his ambition of becoming the Prime Minister, his party will need to form a coalition and secure at least 76 seats.
Wilders has made curbing immigration his main focus, toning down his anti-Islam rhetoric during the campaign. Instead, he emphasized issues such as the cost of living and immigration, leading analysts to dub him as “Geert Milders.”
The 60-year-old politician has been a prominent figure in Dutch politics for many years. He began his career as a member of former Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s liberal group but later broke away to become an independent lawmaker. Eventually, he founded the anti-migrant Freedom Party, known as the PVV in Dutch.
Due to his anti-Islamic views, Wilders has faced death threats and has been under tight police protection since 2004. In 2020, he was found guilty of insult charges for his comments about Moroccan immigrants, although no penalty was imposed by the judges.
In 2022, Wilders defended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma after she made controversial remarks about Prophet Muhammad. He praised Sharma as a “hero” and expressed his belief that India, as a Hindu nation, should defend Hindus against Islamic hate and violence. The government distanced itself from Sharma’s comments, describing them as the views of fringe elements, and she was subsequently suspended as the BJP spokesperson.
However, the court criticized Sharma for her remarks, stating that she had ignited emotions across the country and made irresponsible statements on TV that set the entire nation on fire. The court ruled that she should have immediately apologized to the whole country.
Overall, Wilders’ victory in the Netherlands elections marks a significant shift in the country’s political landscape. While he still faces challenges in his quest to become the Prime Minister, his party’s success highlights the growing influence of right-wing, anti-EU sentiments in Dutch politics.
