The Netherlands: the far right led by Geert Wilders wins the legislative elections

The far-right, anti-Islam party led by Geert Wilders topped the legislative elections that took place in the Netherlands on Wednesday, according to what opinion polls showed when voters left the polls, in a major victory that threatens to cause a political earthquake not only in the Netherlands but also in… All of Europe and perhaps beyond.

According to a poll conducted by the Ipsos Institute, the far-right Freedom Party led by Wilders won 35 seats out of the 150 seats that make up the lower chamber of Parliament.

This share represents a weight in a divided House of Representatives.

The Left-Environmental Alliance, led by Frans Timmermans, came in second place, according to the same poll, with 25 seats.

The center-right party won 24 seats, according to the same poll.

It seems that Wilders’s anti-immigration rhetoric was supported by Dutch voters, but the politician, distinguished by his yellowish-white hair, didn’t guarantee, despite his huge victory, the position of next prime minister.

Wilders stressed that his party has become a force that can no longer be ignored, calling on other parties to work with him to form a government coalition.

But this call was pre-empted by the leaders of the other three main parties by confirming, before the elections, that they would not participate in any government led by the Freedom Party.

However, shortly after casting his vote, populist politician Pieter Omtzigt, who also takes a hardline stance on immigration, said that he was available to lead the Netherlands, acknowledging at the same time that forming the next government coalition won’t be an easy process.

Pieter Omtzigt leads the New Social Contract party, which was founded last summer and this formation won 20 seats, according to the same poll.

On the other hand, Timmermans rejected the idea of ​​joining a coalition led by Wilders.

“It’s time for us to defend democracy,” he said after the polls closed.

Last July, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the fall of his government due to insurmountable differences over immigration.

Only a few days passed until Rutte announced his desire to retire from politics after spending 13 years as Prime Minister, a record period in the Netherlands.

Europe is closely monitoring these early elections, after Rutte played a key role in several issues, including strengthening the Eurozone and supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The center-right party nominated Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius (46) to succeed Rutte, hoping that she would become the first woman in the history of the Netherlands to head the government, but this refugee, in turn, pursued an anti-immigration policy.

This Turkish-born woman arrived in the Netherlands at the age of eight with her father as an asylum seeker, but now supports limiting immigration.

Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius came as a surprise when it announced its openness to the possibility of an alliance with the far-right BVV party.

Immigration, the cost of living, and the housing crisis, which particularly affects young people, were the most prominent headlines of the election campaign.

It took 271 days to form the last government, which is an unprecedented period.

If the final results confirm Wilders’ victory, the Netherlands will have turned strongly towards the far right, with potential repercussions on the country’s membership in the European Union.

The Freedom Party promised that if it came to power, it would organize a referendum on the Netherlands’ exit from the European Union.

Nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was quick to welcome the victory of the far right in the Netherlands, considering that the winds of change had blown in this country.

In turn, the leader of the French National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, congratulated Wilders and his party on their amazing performance in the elections.

Le Pen wrote on X, “Congratulations to Geert Wilders and the Freedom Party on their amazing performance in the legislative elections, which confirms the growing connection to defending national identities, because there are people who refuse to see the national flame extinguished, hope for change remains alive in Europe”.

Wilders has recently sought to improve his image with public opinion at home and abroad by modifying some of his positions.

The controversial politician stressed that there are more pressing problems than reducing the number of asylum seekers, and he also toned down some of his anti-Islam positions, stressing that if he wins, he will be a prime minister for every person in the Netherlands, regardless of religion, origin, gender, or anything else.

However, the Freedom Party’s charter exudes xenophobia and anti-immigrants.

The party calls for combating immigration by restoring Dutch border controls, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants, returning Syrian asylum seekers, and reintroducing work permits for European Union citizens.