ANPThe image of Wilders is removed from the Hofvijver, with the Torentje in the background
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 12:00
Guus Dietvorst
Politics editor
Guus Dietvorst
Politics editor
The PVV was invariably one of the largest parties in the House of Representatives, but never the largest. Until now, because Geert Wilders has exceeded all expectations and that is partly due to his new, more constructive attitude. It will become clear in the near future whether intended coalition partners find his leniency convincing.
Over the past 10 years, Wilders’ tough and unchanging stance on Islam and asylum has been the argument for other parties not to talk to him about a coalition. His ‘fewer Moroccans statement’ (and condemnation for insulting the group for it) was often cited, as were his anti-Islam plans.
In terms of content, the PVV has made little or no difference in that area. According to the latest election manifesto, the party wants a total asylum freeze, a ban on headscarves in government buildings and no Islamic schools, Qurans and mosques in the Netherlands.
But Wilders has adjusted his tone. “We still find what we find,” he said when presenting his program in September. But “here and there, in terms of tone, some rough edges have been taken off,” he added.
‘Dutch back on top’
Partly because the VVD with its new leader Dilan Yesilgöz no longer excluded the PVV in advance, Wilders saw an opportunity with this strategy. He kept the milder language throughout the campaign and that seems to have appealed to voters.
For example, the PVV leader repeatedly stated that there are more important matters than fighting Islam. “We are not going to talk about mosques, Qurans and Islamic schools,” he emphasized yesterday. Not all efforts are made in the fight against Islam, but everything is done to put “the Dutchman first again”.
Wilders consistently mentioned asylum, health care and social security as top priorities in the campaign. And he emphasized that he wanted to become prime minister for all Dutch people. “What your faith, your background, whatever that is.” This morning, at the first group meeting, he repeated those words again.
Do not exclude any voter
The campaign brought the PVV a resounding victory, and as it stands now, a coalition on the right with the VVD and NSC (possibly with BBB, which brings many Senate seats) is the most obvious. On a number of issues, the differences seem to be bridgeable between the three parties, which according to the forecast will amount to 81 seats together (and with BBB to 88).
VVD and NSC did not rule out Wilders in advance, but they were also not eager to collaborate. Pieter Omtzigt repeatedly objected to points from the PVV program that go against “classical fundamental rights”.
Yesilgöz did not want to “exclude any voter” in the campaign, but at the same time he saw a cabinet with the PVV “not happening” and certainly not with Wilders as prime minister. “I’m not going to do that,” the VVD leader said this week. And by ‘I’ she meant her party.
Yesilgöz and Omtzigt responded to the forecast last night:
But under pressure everything becomes fluid and the current result puts pressure on the VVD and NSC. The thought is that such a large group of voters is difficult to ignore. And so you see a change in the VVD: Yesilgöz did not want to repeat the statement that the VVD will not join a cabinet under Prime Minister Wilders yesterday. She is waiting to see what the PVV comes up with. “It’s now up to Wilders.”
Omtzigt emphasized last night after the forecast that the country must be governed. “We are available to translate this trust into action.” The NSC leader did say that it would be “not easy” “with this election result”. Like Wilders, he talked about “stepping over the shadows”.
And the PVV leader himself met Omtzigt’s constitutional objections by stating that he will only make proposals “within the framework of the law and the Constitution”. “I will be reasonable, despite that wonderful victory.”
“Our story of the Dutchman on 1 has appealed to people,” Wilders said last night:
‘Such a mega victory must be respected’
Wilders immediately called on the other parties to look for agreements, and they are easy to find. For example, on the topics of migration, nitrogen, nuclear energy and housing, there appear to be opportunities to find solutions.
For other themes it is more complicated. The PVV and VVD are particularly far apart on issues such as Europe, climate policy and support for Ukraine. In the near future it will be up to the big winner Wilders to turn this into chocolate and convince the others to join forces with him.
“We like to work together. We are going to show that we can do it,” he emphasized today at the start of the festive faction meeting. “It will not be up to us as PVV members.”
2023-11-23 11:00:06
#Cabinet #PVV #option #due #Wilders #position
