Far-right politician Geert Wilders from the Netherlands thanked supporters on December 17, 2023, following an election victory. The conservative-liberal politician also assured that he would always support the Hindus who were threatened in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The controversial lawmaker is a vocal critic of Islam and has been accused of spreading and inciting hatred and discrimination on several occasions.
Support for Hindus
“Thank you so much to all my friends from all over the world who congratulated me on winning the Dutch elections. Many kind messages came from India, I will always support those who are attacked or threatened to kill or prosecuted in Bangladesh and Pakistan only on the grounds of being a Hindu, “he tweeted on December 17, 2023.
Wilders anti-Muslim Freedom Party emerged a clear winner in the polls held last month but has struggled to corral potential allies into coalition negotiations. The PVV claimed another prize on December 16, 2023, as Martin Bosma was elected the chair of the Lower House of Parliament.
Coalition Efforts
His efforts to navigate the fragmented political system of the Netherlands however come with some difficulties. Reports indicate that he has less than two months to win over the potential coalition partners uneasy about his hardline views. The far-right firebrand is hoping to stitch together a four-way coalition that also involves the BBB Farmers party, the central right VVD liberal party, and the three-month-old New Social Contract Party.
On December 14, 2023, the far-right lawmaker said that he wanted to be the prime minister of all of the Netherlands and pledged to ensure that his policies adhere to the country’s constitution. The comments were made in the parliament and aimed at easing fears among the potential coalition partners about his strident anti-Islam rhetoric and plans to ban mosques, Islamic schools, and the Quran Sharif.
Who is Geet Wilders?
The sixty-year-old far-right politician is highly known for extreme anti-Islam and anti-immigration rhetoric. He believes that Islam is an ideology of retarted culture and is also called the Moroccan scum. He is the president of the PVV party in Dutch politics
In 2022, Wilders also backed the BJP Leader Nupur Sharma over her remarks on Prophet Mohammed during a TV debate. He tweeted “Never give in to Islamic terrorists like the Al-Qaeda, they represent barbarism. The whole nation should rally around Nupur Sharma now and support her. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban put me on the hit list several years ago. One lesson, never bow to terrorists, Never!” he had said.
His extreme views extend to Euroscepticism He wants the Netherlands out of the European Union (EU) and his plans include a Nexit referendum, restoring Dutch border control, deporting unwanted immigrants, and pursuing a Netherlands First Policy. He wants to stop sending arms and weapons to Ukraine.
