Far right, anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has won a historic victory for his Freedom party (PVV) in shock Dutch elections on Wednesday. As the final votes are counted, Wilders appears to have more than doubled his 17 MPs in 2021 elections, winning 37 of the 150 seats in the Dutch parliament and almost a quarter of the 13 million votes. ‘The PVV can no longer be ignored,’ vowed Wilders following his success overnight. ‘We will govern’.
Wilders, who campaigned on the idea of ‘stopping’ immigration, appears to have benefitted from widespread mistrust of the government after a series of scandals under ex prime minister Mark Rutte. For years, Wilders has tried to present himself as different from other politicians: the 60-year-old has called parliament ‘fake’ and posed as a candidate for change – despite soon celebrating 25 years as a politician. In this election, his message finally hit home.
Wilders said he was prepared to put his extreme stance on Islam ‘on ice’
‘Hah, hah, hah, 35 seats!’ he said last night, after watching the first exit poll.
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