The PVV was without exception one of the largest parties in the Chamber of Deputies, but it was never the largest. So far Geert Wilders has exceeded all expectations, and this is partly due to his new and more constructive attitude. Whether the proposed coalition partners will be convinced of his tolerance remains to be seen in the near future.
Over the past decade, Wilders’ tough and unwavering stance on Islam and asylum has led other parties not to talk to him about a coalition. His “Declaration of Less Moroccans” (and his condemnation of insulting the group for it) and his anti-Islam agenda have been frequently cited.
In terms of content, PVV has achieved little or nothing in this area. According to its latest election manifesto, the party wants a complete ban on asylum in the Netherlands, a ban on headscarves in government buildings and no Islamic schools, Qurans and mosques.
However, Wilders corrected his tone. “We are still finding what we found,” he said while introducing his program in September. But “some rough edges have been removed here and there sonically,” he added.
“The Dutch are at the top again”
Wilders also saw this strategy as an opportunity because VVD, with its new president Dilan Yeşilgöz, had no longer excluded PVV from the beginning. He used softer language throughout the campaign, and voters seemed to like that.
For example, the PVV leader has repeatedly stated that there are more important things than the fight against Islam. “We will not talk about mosques, the Quran, Islamic schools,” he emphasized yesterday. Not every effort is being made in the fight against Islam, but everything is being done to “bring the Dutch to the fore again”.
During the election campaign, Wilders repeatedly said that asylum, healthcare and social security were his top priorities. And he emphasized that he wanted to be the prime minister of all Dutch people. “No matter your faith, your background, whatever.” He repeated these words once again at the first group meeting this morning.
Don’t exclude any voters
The election campaign gave the PVV a big victory, and from today’s perspective, the most obvious is the coalition on the right with the VVD and the NSC (possibly with the BBB, which brings many seats in the Senate). On some issues, the differences between the three parties, which are expected to have a total of 81 seats (and BBB’s 88), appear to be overcome.
The VVD and NSC did not exclude Wilders from the start, but they were not interested in working together either. Pieter Omtzigt has repeatedly criticized aspects of the PVV program that violate “classical fundamental rights”.
Yeşilgöz did not want to “exclude any voters” during the election campaign, but he also saw that there would be “no way” to have a cabinet with PVV and certainly Wilders as prime minister. “I won’t do that,” the VVD boss said this week. And by “I” he meant his party.
Yeşilgöz and Omtzigt responded to last night’s prediction as follows:
But under pressure everything becomes fluid and the current result puts VVD and NSC under pressure. The idea is that such a large group of voters is hard to ignore. And you see the change in the VVD like this: Yeşilgöz did not want to repeat the statement made yesterday that the VVD would not enter any cabinet under Prime Minister Wilders. Waiting to see what PVV proposes. “Now it’s up to Wilders.”
After the prediction made last night, Omtzigt emphasized that the country should be governed. “We are ready to implement this trust.” The MGK boss said, “With this election result, it will not be easy.” Like Wilders, he spoke of “going beyond the shadows”.
The PVV president also responded to Omtzigt’s constitutional objections by saying that he would only make proposals “within the framework of the law and the constitution.” “I will remain sane despite this amazing victory.”
Wilders said last night: “Our story on Dutchman 1 spoke to people.”
Wilders immediately called on other parties to look for deals, and they are easy to find. For example, there appear to be opportunities to find solutions to immigration, nitrogen, nuclear energy, and housing.
For other subjects the situation is more complex. PVV and VVD are far apart, especially on issues such as Europe, climate policy and support for Ukraine. It will be up to big winner Wilders to turn this into chocolate in the near future and persuade others to join him.
“We enjoy working together. We will show that we can do this,” he stressed at the start of the celebratory group meeting today. “As PVV members, this is out of our hands.”
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
