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“Dutch Populist Wins Shock Election: Seeks to Form Government

Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch anti-Islam far-right party known as the Party for Freedom, celebrated a surprise victory in the Dutch parliamentary elections on Wednesday. This could potentially grant him the ability to form a government with the help of other smaller, right-wing parties. The results of the Dutch election will no doubt cause a stir throughout Europe due to Wilders’ stated desire to roll back the Netherlands’ traditionally progressive stance on immigration and free speech. He has made no secret of his opinion on the Syrian refugee crisis; this week’s victory potentially emboldens him to implement his plans to reduce the number of incoming refugees and deport those who are already in the country. If he succeeds in forming a government, Wilders would become the first populist leader to rule in Europe in decades. He has long been vocal on many foreign policy issues that have been taken up by other right-wing parties, such as Britain’s Ukip and France’s National Front. As a result, his victory could mark a worrying turning point in European politics, where ideas such as a “clash of civilizations”, and a call for more restrictive immigration, become mainstream. However, Wilders’ success remains uncertain for the time being. While his party secured an impressive 33 out of the 150 seats in Parliament, without the help of other parties it will be difficult for him to form a stable coalition government. The Netherlands has been one of the few countries in Europe that has shied away from populism in recent years, and it remains to be seen whether the shock of Wilders’ victory will be enough to lead to a change in stance. Nevertheless, the political landscape in the Netherlands is now drastically different than it was just one day ago, with Wilders set to be a major player in deciding the nation’s future.