Dutch Anti-Islamization Leader Predicted To Win Prime Ministership

Amid a growing wave of immigration into Europe, and a series of terrorist attacks across the country, nationalist political parties are once again appearing in European elections. In the Netherlands, the far-right Freedom Party is branding itself the anti-Islamization party.

According to Politico, Geert Wilders, the Freedom Party’s leader, announced August 25, in the party’s five-year plan, that it will seek to close mosques and Islamic schools throughout the country, secure the Dutch borders, ban the Koran, outlaw head-scarves for women, block Muslim immigration, and close asylum seeker centers.

The party’s manifesto comes ahead of the Dutch parliamentary elections scheduled for March 2017.

According to Politico, an IPSOS poll predicts the Freedom Party may gain seats in the parliament and become the most represented party – making Wilders the nation’s prime minister.

According to Expatica, the Freedom Party could win 38 seats in the Dutch parliament, up from their current 12 of a total 150.

In 2011, Wilders told the BBC that his goals are “to have a debate about freedom of speech and the threat of Islamization of our Western societies”. Wilders added, “[i]t’s not my intention to have anything at all to do with violence.”

However, in March 2016, Wilders stood on trial for hate speech against the Dutch Moroccan minority.

“Nobody will silence me. Not about Moroccans either,” he tweeted at the time, notes The Guardian. “No terrorist threats … no judge. Nobody.”

“Freedom of expression is not absolute, it is paired with obligations and responsibilities, the responsibility not to set groups of people against each other,” Wouter Bos, Wilders’ lead prosecutor said. “Racism and hatred of foreigners constitute a direct violation of the basis of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.”

The case revolved around a March 2014 rally in which Wilders asked a crowd if they wanted more or fewer Moroccans. “Fewer! Fewer! Fewer!,” the crowd chanted. “We’ll take care of that,” Wilders responded. 

Sources: Politico, Expatica, BCC, The Guardian / Photo Credit: Metropolico.org via Flickr