Geert Wilders’ “put Netherlands first” message has resonated with Dutch voters – and the EU cannot afford to ignore the signal coming out of one of the bloc’s six founding members, an MEP has warned.
Meanwhile, a Brussels-based expert has said the situation in the Netherlands has been precipitated by the inability of former Prime Minister Mark Rutte to take “tough decisions” on immigration, begging comparisons with both David Cameron in 2016 and Rishi Sunak today.
Mr Wilders, 60, stunned the political establishment in his own country and elsewhere after his right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV) won 37 seats in the Dutch general election.
As a result, PVV will be comfortably the largest single party in the 150-seat legislature, with Mr Wilders in a strong position to become the country’s next Prime Minister in a coalition government.
Michiel Hoogenveen, an MEP and a member of the JA21 party, told Express.co.uk: “In The Netherlands, the political landscape was totally turned upside down yesterday.
“A very strong message from Dutch voters, desperate for change. Less migration, less EU, less climate policies.”
He added: “Wilders swallowed many of the right-wing voters.
“Luckily, my party, centre-right JA21, seems to have passed the threshold, so we are still represented in all major parliaments, with potential to grow again in the future.”
Pieter Cleppe, Editor-in-chief of BrusselsReport.eu, said: “This result is the outcome of Mark Rutte avoiding tough choices, leading to migration chaos.
“At no point has he supported the Australian model at the EU level, which is the only way to stop the chaos.”
Mr Wilders has long pushed the idea of a nationwide vote on membership of the bloc and Mr Cleppe added: “Not only Wilders but also Pieter Omtzigt, whose NSC party may go in a coalition with Wilders, has urged a more firm Dutch stance against Brussels, even referring to the example of Poland and Hungary.
“It remains to be seen if Wilders will push to get his proposal for an EU referendum in any coalition agreement.”
Mr Cleppe put the chances of Netherlands quitting the bloc at just 15 percent – but told Express.co.uk Brussels would undoubtedly be “panicking” in the wake of the result.
He also agreed the situation faced by the Netherlands was comparable to those faced by David Cameron in 2016 and by current Mr Sunak today. Especially in light of the publication of figures today showing net migration into the country in 2022 of almost 750,000.
Professor Amelia Hadfield, Head of the Department of Politics at the University of Surrey and Founder of the Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE), also downplayed the prospects of a so-called Nexit – while acknowledging Mr Wilders’ push for a referendum “will be unwelcome in Brussels”.
She added: “Geert Wilders is known for two things: anti-Islamic views and ardent Euroscepticism.
“His Euroscepticism rests on a long-standing, deep-seated animosity towards supranational governance, with the promise of a ‘Nexit’ referendum a core part of his pitch to the Netherlands.
“Seven years after Brexit, Wilders’ pledge will certainly be unwelcome in Brussels; however, the reality of an actual departure is unlikely.”
Dutch voters may have found “attractive” key parts of Mr Wilders’ “pugnacious patriotism”, Prof Hadfield said, but the prospect of the Netherlands quitting the EU seemed “remote”.
She continued: “Within and beyond the EU, Wilders will undoubtedly shift the composition, adding to the number of EU far-right and nationalist leaders, including Hungary, Italy and Finland, as well as Poland and Slovenia.
“This will make it more challenging to find consensus on everything from the war in Ukraine to climate action, from development policy to trans-Atlantic relations.”
Speaking today, Mr Wilders said: “It is going to happen that the PVV is in the next Cabinet organisations. Can you imagine it? 37 seats!”
Echoing former US President Donald Trump, with whom he has been compared, he added: “The Dutch will be No. 1 again. The people must get their nation back.”
Mr Wilders’ election program included calls for a referendum on the Netherlands leaving the European Union, a total halt to accepting asylum-seekers and migrant pushbacks at Dutch borders.
It also advocates the “de-Islamisation” of the Netherlands.
Other political parties were holding separate meetings to discuss the election’s outcome before what is likely to be an arduous process of forming a new governing coalition begins tomorrow.
