A political earthquake from the Netherlands? Geert Wilders' Dutch Islamophobic far-right party won the general elections on Wednesday 22 November, according to exit polls. These results, if confirmed, would send shockwaves far beyond the country's borders.

Geert Wilders' PVV (Freedom Party) won 35 seats and a comfortable electoral victory, according to the Ipsos poll. Frans Timmermans' left-wing alliance is second with 26 seats. The centre-right VVD won 23 seats.

If confirmed by the final results, Geert Wilders' victory marks a sharp shift to the right that will be greeted with apprehension in Brussels: the PVV has promised a referendum on the Netherlands' accession to the EU.

"Maybe it's not what other parties in Europe or other countries are looking for, but hey, that's what democracy is all about," the 60-year-old politician said after casting his vote.

His anti-immigration message, including closing borders and deporting illegal immigrants, seems to have resonated with Dutch voters.

35!!!!!!

PVV GROOTSTE PARTIJ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/oMANVYvGjy

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) November 22, 2023

But while Geert Wilders seems to have triumphed in the polls, it is not certain that he will be able to form a governing coalition. The leaders of the other three main parties have assured that they will not participate in a coalition led by the PVV.

Kate Parker, of the Economist Intelligence Unit, said it would lead to a "constitutional deadlock" in the EU's fifth-largest economy.

Crusade against the "Islamic invasion"

Geert Wilders and his peroxidized mane have been part of the Dutch political landscape for decades.

Not hesitating to call Moroccans "scum" or to propose cartoon contests of the Prophet Mohammed, Geert Wilders has built his career on a crusade against what he calls an "Islamic invasion" of the West.

Neither the run-ins with the Dutch justice system – which found him guilty of insulting Moroccans – nor the death threats against him – which have kept him under police protection since 2004 – have discouraged him.

"I don't regret fighting for freedom," Geert Wilders told AFP in an interview on the eve of the 2021 elections. "Of course I'm taking a stand, I'm being attacked, my country is under attack."

Geert Wilders, who tried to smooth out some of his populist rhetoric and focus on other voters' concerns, ended up exceeding expectations.

There are "bigger problems than fighting the flow of asylum seekers and immigrants," he said in one of the last election debates, adding that he was willing to put aside his views on Islam to govern.

While immigration has remained a key topic in the campaign, the Dutch are even more worried about "whether they have even more money left in their wallets," he said. He promised to focus more on "safety and health care" than on his opposition to Islam.

He told reporters in The Hague after voting that he would be prime minister for "everyone in the Netherlands, regardless of religion, origin, gender or whatever."

Supporter of a "Nexit"

But the PVV's manifesto has retained its trademark xenophobic tone. "Asylum seekers are feasting on delicious free buffets on cruise ships while Dutch families are having to cut back on shopping," the manifesto reads.

Proposed anti-immigration measures include the reinstatement of Dutch border controls, the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants, the return of Syrian asylum seekers, and the reintroduction of work permits for intra-EU workers.

As for Islam, the PVV manifesto says: "The Netherlands is not an Islamic country. No schools, no Korans and no Islamic mosques." It proposes to ban the wearing of headscarves in government buildings.

On foreign policy, he advocates a "Netherlands first" approach that includes closing its representation in Ramallah and strengthening ties with Israel, including moving its embassy to Jerusalem.

A "binding referendum" on a "Nexit" – the Netherlands' exit from the EU – is also on the agenda, as well as an "immediate halt" to development aid.

Geert Wilders was running for the sixth time after failing to cause an upset on several occasions. "When I left my old party (the VVD) (...) I said that one day we will become the biggest party," Geert Wilders told reporters as he cast his vote.

With AFP

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