Dutch left-wing parties seek to block Geert Wilders influence
Democrats 66 threatens to withdraw from coalition
The Dutch left-wing party Democrats 66 (D66) has threatened to withdraw from the country’s governing coalition if the anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders is given any influence over government policy.
Wilders seeks to join local government in The Hague
Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV) won the most votes in last week’s local elections in The Hague, the Netherlands’ third-largest city. The PVV is now in talks with other parties about forming a coalition to govern the city.
D66 opposed to any cooperation with Wilders
D66 leader Sigrid Kaag said her party would not be part of any coalition that included the PVV. “We will not cooperate with a party that spreads hatred and division,” she said.
Stephan van Baarle, the leader of D66 in The Hague, said his party would rather leave the coalition than work with the PVV. “We cannot accept a party that wants to exclude people based on their religion or origin,” he said.
The other two parties in the coalition, the liberal VVD and the Christian democratic CDA, have not yet said whether they would be willing to work with the PVV.
Wilders has a history of making inflammatory remarks about Islam and Muslims
Wilders has been convicted of hate speech and discrimination in the past. He has called for a ban on all Muslim immigration to the Netherlands and has compared Islam to Nazism.
Concerns about Wilders' influence on Dutch politics
If Wilders’ PVV is able to form a coalition in The Hague, it would be the first time that the party has held any significant power in the Netherlands.
Critics of Wilders say that his influence on Dutch politics would be dangerous. They argue that his rhetoric could lead to increased discrimination against Muslims and other minorities.
Supporters of Wilders say that he is simply expressing the concerns of many Dutch people who are worried about the growing influence of Islam in the country.
The outcome of the coalition talks in The Hague is likely to have a significant impact on the future of Dutch politics
If the PVV is able to form a coalition, it could embolden other far-right parties in Europe. It could also lead to a shift in Dutch policy towards Muslims and other minorities.
