(Photograph: Elekes Andor, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
‘The sun will shine again in the Netherlands’ remarked a jubilant Geert Wilders last week, as he announced the formation of a right-wing coalition – a coalition which means Holland and the Dutch people will finally get the government they voted for six months ago. Having won the election back in November 2023, Wilders was beset by problems forming a government – namely that no one wanted to work with him, nor serve in a cabinet of which he was Prime Minister.
Holland’s de facto leader has managed the impossible however, and successfully brought on-board three other coalition partners: the centre-right establishment-conservative VVD (ironically, outgoing PM Mark Rutte’s party), the centre-right NSC, and the farmers’ movement BBB, which was only founded last year.
Wilder’s current optimism is a far-cry from his analysis of the staid political situation back in 2022, when he was kind enough to give a lengthy interview to The New Conservative:
We have now a Prime Minister in his fourth cabinet, and people feel they have very little influence in changing the government, whether it’s about the European Union, lower taxes, or less immigration or whatever issue. People feel that they have very few things to say. So, the state of our democracy, the trust in government is indeed, from left to right, actually over the whole political spectrum you have a different analysis, but they all agree that we have a serious problem when it comes to the political climate in the Netherlands.
‘Hope, Courage and Pride’ is the new administration’s motto, and also the title of the 26-page provisional agreement which forms the basis of the new government. All well and good, but a buoyant Wilders is going to need every ounce of positivity he possesses going forward – not least of which because the motley crew of coalition partners he has assembled did not appear willing to look him in the eye, even as he paid tribute to them. Furthermore, the media adjective of choice for Wilders still oscillates between ‘far-right’ and ‘populist’ – the bastardised version of ‘popular’, indicating that however much the Dutch people may love their new leader, the globalist liberal hegemony has not given its assent to his election.
And indeed, even within the coalition it is clear that Wilders has had to make serious compromises just to get everyone around the table – chiefly, that he will not be Prime Minister. For this, Wilders deserves enormous credit: a rare instance of a politician forsaking his own opportunities atop the greasy pole, in exchange for putting the people and the country first.
Concessions notwithstanding, the mood of Wilders victory speech is stunningly uplifting. Wilders himself looked majestic at the lectern, the electoral breakthrough taking at least 10 years off him. Having languished for years as a victim of the European Union’s cancerous globalism, The Netherlands it appears is about to get a new lease of life; the all-clear granted at death’s door, thanks to Wilders’ unashamed patriotism.
Just watch the video.
The thing that struck me when I saw this speech was that while England and Holland may be geographic neighbours, this is worlds apart from any form of politics we have over here. Even if you hated Wilders and everything he stands for, you cannot help feel the sincerity and the love emanating from the screen. This, above all, is the one thing missing from domestic politics – the Conservative Party does not believe in anything, least of all Britain, while the Labour Party actively despises its own country and its people. Wilders has no such qualms, and he’s certainly earned the right to his national pride, having defied the past 20 years’ worth of death threats, and continuously (and without complaint) spoken up for what he believes in:
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.
Wilders has certainly made the best of it, and won a remarkable victory.
If you had to summarise his approach to government thus far, it would distil to this:
- The strictest asylum policy ever
- Border controls
- Opt-outs from the European Union
- The rescission of lunatic green taxes and policies
- Nuclear power stations to be built
- A robust response to terrorism
- Foreign criminals deported
How well such policies might play out to the British electorate, were it only given a say in the matter. For what it’s worth, my suspicion is that a genuinely conservative party with the guts to put forward a similar manifesto would immediately secure 40% of the UK vote. Farage, Tice et al, I hope you’re paying attention – particularly now that a snap UK election has been called!
I’d like to leave the last word to Geert, because I think it’s fabulous:
‘The Netherlands will become safer, and the sun will shine again. A new course is set for our country, so we can be proud of this country again, our beautiful Netherlands. The four of us will do everything to fulfil your trust. Because we love our country, we love you and our residents. And I promise you, the Netherlands will be ours again.’
Frank Haviland is the author of Banalysis: The Lie Destroying the West, and writes a Substack here.
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A good start and certainly words a lot of people would like to hear. Now the hard part, putting them into action. Let us hope.
He will suffer the same fate as Truss because democracy is a sham.
A Tory leader with similar views could quite easily rally us disenchanted, true blue voters and ensure a good result on 4/7. As it is, I feel our flag ship policy of ‘stop the kids from smoking’ might not be quite so effective. Perhaps our leader should consider restoring ‘good old fashioned British values’ rather than pandering to multi culturism ideals. After all, please remember that Britain is a Christian country.