SCHEVENINGEN, NETHERLANDS – NOVEMBER 22: Geert Wilders, Dutch right-wing politician and leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), reacts to the exit poll and early results that strongly indicate a victory for his party in the Dutch elections on November 22, 2023 in Scheveningen, Netherlands. Dutch voters have gone to the polls today in one of the most tightly contested general elections in recent years. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images).
Carl Court | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Far-right politician Geert Wilders sent shockwaves through the European political landscape as he led his party to a decisive victory in the Netherlands’ general elections.
Only late in the campaign did polls begin to suggest that controversial Wilders, who rails against immigration and espouses a series of Islamophobic policies, could come to power after 25 years in politics.
The result of Wednesday’s election will be concerning both to Brussels — Wilders’ Euroskepticism extends as far as calling for a ‘Nexit’, or Netherlands exit from the European Union — and to Ukraine, as Wilders has pledged to cut off military aid.
The Netherlands is the EU’s fifth-biggest economy and has proved influential, with a significant sway in policymaking. For 13 years the country has been led by centre-right Mark Rutte, who developed a reputation as the “teflon prime minister” for his ability to weather scandals while being a pragmatic dealmaker.
The Netherlands is also a key U.S. ally in the ever-important spheres of trade and technology, where it has rolled out export restrictions on advanced semiconductor equipment amid U.S. efforts to curb supplies to China. Its role here is vital due to its homegrown firm ASML, one of the most important semiconductor companies in the world.
Next steps
Forming a coalition in the 150-seat Dutch parliament is typically lengthy and difficult, even where the victor is not a political pariah.
There is still no guarantee Wilders will become the new prime minister, even with his…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply