The recent political upheaval in the Netherlands, marked by Geert Wilders’ significant victory, has triggered concerns across Europe. Renowned for its liberal ideals, the country’s recent electoral outcome has raised alarm bells, particularly for minorities and immigrants.
In the past, it was the tradition that Sinterklass (Saint Nicholas) would arrive in Holland on the first Saturday after Nov. 11 and begin his travels through the country with his assistants, called Black Peters, often presented in blackface with Afro wigs, who would help Santa know which children were naughty or nice.
This tradition was phased out in recent years because it was rightly seen as racist, a throwback to a 19th century colonialist view of the world. But this year the Dutch are introducing something new and even more odious. They made the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-EU leader of the misleadingly-named Dutch Freedom Party’s Geert Wilders the big winner in national elections this past Wednesday.
He has said “I don’t hate Muslims, I hate Islam.” He has called for a ban on the Koran. He has condemned the influx of Muslims from North Africa, the Arab world, and Turkey into Holland. Wilders, for the above reasons, as well as his support of right wing leaders like Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban, and Marine LePen—not to mention his puffy blondish haircut—has been termed “the Dutch Donald Trump.” His rise echoes the unsettling trends witnessed globally.
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The Green Left-Labor Party alliance finished second with 25 seats and the Party for Freedom and Democracy looks like it will end up with 24 seats.
This makes it almost certain that Wilders will play a significant role in the parliament.
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Nonetheless, Wilders’ victory is certain to push Dutch policies rightward. More importantly, it sends an encouraging message to Europe’s right-wing in the wake of recent victories in Hungary, Italy, and Sweden; surging right-wing groups in Germany, Austria, and France; and important elections to the EU parliament next June.
In The Guardian, the doyenne of France’s right Marine Le Pen was quoted as saying, “more and more countries at the heart of the EU are contesting the way it works… and want us to master immigration, which is seen by many European peoples as massive and totally anarchic today.”
Hungary’s Viktor Orban cheered, “The winds of change are here!”
Other leaders of far-right European parties joined him in a chorus of anti-immigrant, Euro-skeptic, Putin-adjacent huzzahs.
The Financial Times’ Andy Bounds offered a perspective that should also resonate with Americans, writing “Following recent opinion polls predicting Donald Trump could return as U.S. president, the Dutch vote again showed a gulf in a developed economy between better-off city dwellers and rural voters worried about rising immigration and declining public services.”
The celebratory tone among far-right European leaders following this win underscores a growing sentiment against immigration and Euro-skepticism. This ideological echo resonates with political shifts seen elsewhere, reflecting societal divisions between urban and rural populations concerned about immigration and public services.
As Europe braces for subsequent developments and potential policy shifts, the influence of the far-right in shaping the continent’s future remains a prominent concern.
While some traditions have evolved positively, the current political climate casts shadows on the narrative. The symbolic tradition of sending misbehaving children away now reflects an unnerving reality where racial and religious biases potentially drive national policy decisions.
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The Netherlands’ recent political shake-up isn’t an isolated event—it’s part of a broader wave reshaping Europe’s political landscape. The impact of these shifts extends beyond national borders, prompting concerns and reflections on the future trajectory of European politics.
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