Yesterday’s historic Dutch election victory for Geert Wilders is nothing short of seismic. After 25 years as The Netherlands’ political bogeyman, Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) has won 37 of 150 parliamentary seats, well ahead of his nearest rival (ex-EU commissioner Frans Timmermans’ left-wing alliance) on just 25. For Wilders, 60, this is a far cry from his third place showing two years ago, and was apparently as much a shock to him as to anyone else: “I had to pinch my arm”, he told reporters.
While of course desirous to be PM, Wilders will face an uphill struggle to form a coalition, as the leaders of the other major parties have previously rejected the notion of working with him. Wilders may be optimistic that such a union can be forged, but coalition talks are expected to take months. “The campaign is over and the voters have spoken” he said, “Now we will have to look for agreements with each other. With a wonderful position of 35 seats, the PVV can no longer be ignored.” In a nod to the obvious compromise such an alliance would require, Wilders added: “I understand perfectly well we should not take any measures that would be unconstitutional.”
Europe’s right-wing leaders were naturally first to offer their congratulations. Marine Le Pen claimed the result “confirms the growing attachment to the defence of national identities”. A buoyant Viktor Orbán, proclaimed “the winds of change are here!” Their sentiments were echoed by Matteo Salvini, who stated “A new Europe is possible”.
The establishment carve-up however, was laughably predictable. In its reporting, the BBC opted for: “Right-wing nationalists across Europe rushed to congratulate the populist politician”, which, beyond the left-wing echo chamber, might begrudgingly translate as Wilders being ‘Conservative’, ‘patriotic’, and (dare one say it) ‘popular’. “Geert Wilders’ publicly expressed views” the Beeb continued, “including linking Muslim immigration with terrorism and calling for a ban on mosques and the Quran – are so provocative that he has been under tight police protection since 2004.” Linking Muslim immigration and terrorism? Christ yes, that’s a link so tenuous even Emmanuel Macron has noticed it. But since we all know Islam is the religion of peace, remind us again who he’s under attack from?
No doubt, this morning’s newspapers will be allocating more column inches than usual to the casual epithets ‘far-right’, ‘hard-right’, and ‘racist’, alongside the rather tawdry allusions to Hitler – feeling it necessary for instance to highlight Wilders’ preference for peroxide, as well as his love of animals (cats, not dogs in this case).
However, this smearing is a con trick that may be past its sell-by date. No matter how much the establishment wish to paint the election as some sort of ‘racist’ aberration, the fact is as the largest party by far, Wilders’ opinions are clearly mainstream. More to the point, the Dutch are among the most tolerant, liberal citizens on earth – which either means they’ve been betrayed so badly by their leaders that the Overton window has shifted; or, more likely, Wilders is simply speaking common sense.
When I spoke to Geert last year, it was crystal clear that he is far from the caricature painted of him. Instead, I’d characterise him as someone who dearly loves his country, and has paid the ultimate price in terms of freedom, attempting to defend it. It’s well worth reading the original interview, but if you don’t have time consider this segment where he told me about the restrictions he endures 24/7:
While the threats to my life have been higher or lower at certain points, the level of my security has not changed for at least 18 years now. Since I got into trouble in 2004, almost 18 years ago, I have not been living in my own home, but in a government-owned safe house. It is not mine; I do not even rent it, I just get it because of my situation. I can go nowhere by myself, I cannot even open my own letterbox at home. I am always together with the police, and security forces, everywhere I go outside, abroad or domestically. So actually, I have totally lost my own freedom, and I’m not complaining about it because this is the price you have to pay. There is no way back you know, this is my life now unfortunately, and I make the best of it.
But the point is, if you really speak out in favour of freedom of speech, let alone if you use the freedom of speech. If you talk about what the Germans call a Leitkultur: dominant culture, and what a dominant culture means, and why Islam (I’m not talking about the people, but the ideology of Islam) why they are not free, and why all the countries where Islam is dominant are unfree countries. What it means, and what immigration means for the Netherlands when it comes to Islamic immigration, then you get either fatwas as I got; you are taken to court by people who hate your guts. You are silenced in parliament, at least that’s what they try. So, you pay a heavy price – that’s why freedom is a very relative issue you know. It’s absolute for the people who talk according to the wishes of the elite that are in-charge. But if you diverge from that, it’s very relative; it’s non-existent. So, it’s a sad thing, but most people they don’t experience it, but it’s 100% true unfortunately.
Let’s hope that his sacrifice will lead to real change, not just for The Netherlands, but for Europe and the West as a whole. Wilders has certainly proved something: if you keep pushing for a quarter of a century against those who bear no love for the nations they profess to serve, you might just get somewhere (besides the constant security and death threats, that is).
Whether this shock election result will have positive implications for Britain remains to be seen. Europe may be awash with populism, but there appears little political will for change in Britain – at least at Westminster. Nigel Farage of course is the ideal candidate that springs to mind; he’s served his 25 years, has charisma and connects with the man in the street, and is mostly a straight-talker (although he has historically steered clear of picking a fight with Islam). Perhaps a brief sojourn in the jungle will do him good: three weeks to top up his tan and his Tik-Tok audience, and it may just be time to assume stewardship of the Conservative Party – a move Farage has famously not ruled out.
But we should be cautious before getting too excited this side of the Channel. Britain’s recent form on free speech ain’t great, as former Home Secretary Jackie Smith proved when she banned Geert Wilders from visiting parliament back in 2009, on the grounds that his presence could “inflame community tensions and lead to inter-faith violence”. One wonders what stance James Cleverly will adopt?
Where there’s a Wilders, there’s a way; Britain would do well to remember that in these troubled and volatile times.
Frank Haviland is the Editor of The New Conservative, and the author of Banalysis: The Lie Destroying the West.
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