ANPWilders in debate with Rutte during the EenVandaag election debate for the Provincial Council elections
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 07:12
Kysia Hekster
European Union Correspondent
Kysia Hekster
European Union Correspondent
No EU leader says it out loud, but there is a lot of fear in Brussels about the large and unexpected profit of Geert Wilders’ PVV. Website Politico wrote on Friday that Brussels is afraid “for the blond beast“, the “Dutch Trump”.
Later this morning, the 27 EU trade ministers will meet in Brussels. The agenda includes topics such as the European Union’s trade relations with the US and the trade agreement with Chile. But in the corridors, outgoing Minister Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade) will mainly receive many questions about the election results, diplomats expect.
It is far from certain that Wilders will lead a cabinet. But even if that does not happen, the outcome will not remain without consequences in the EU on at least three points.
Major pro-European player
First of all, the position of the Netherlands in Brussels will most likely become less pro-European. With Rutte, the Netherlands is now one of the major pro-European players in Brussels. He makes no secret of the fact that after his departure as prime minister he aspires to a position on the international stage, as NATO chief or chairman of the European Commission. Behind the scenes it can be heard in Brussels that a government led by the PVV, with the VVD as a tolerating partner or in the cabinet, could be bad news for Rutte’s ambitions.
Whoever becomes prime minister, it is likely that after Rutte’s departure, a more critical EU voice will be heard from the Netherlands in Brussels. For example, the Financial Times writes that it is obvious that The Hague will have one in the future could become an obstaclefor example in the area of EU expansion with countries such as Ukraine.
AFPWilders with Sam Van Rooy (L) and Filip Dewinter (M) from sister party Vlaams Belang
Of the four parties that won seats in last week’s elections, only GroenLinks-PvdA is pro-European. Wilders calls for a referendum on a Nexit, NSC leader Omtzigt wants a decision on the accession of new countries to be the subject of a corrective referendum. BBB wants the Netherlands to have an exceptional position in the field of migration and nature policy.
Dutch position in Brussels
The Netherlands’ strong position in the EU will also lose strength with a new Prime Minister. A new prime minister must be accepted in the first months within the European Council, where the heads of state and government meet, says Adriaan Schout, EU expert at think tank Clingendael. Mark Rutte is now one of the longest-serving heads of government in the EU and he knows everyone. A newcomer must first build a network.
The result could also lead to changes for the EU itself, Schout expects. “It’s about major geopolitical topics in Brussels. About extra money for the EU, about expansion, about climate ambitions. And then the Netherlands elects Geert Wilders. I assume that is experienced as a bucket of cold water on many plans and many agendas. And it’s a wake-up call that this can happen in other countries too.”
‘European climate policy in trouble’
Brussels administrators will also have to wonder whether their own ambitions, for example in the field of climate policy, are not too great. Website Politico writes that it has never happened before that elections in an EU country were won by a party calling for an end to the green transition.
The site sees a broader shift upcoming in the field of the green transition, and thinks that European climate policy will also run into problems in other countries.
Rise of the radical right expected
Bloomberg news agency calls the election results a “stone in the pond” and thinks that other countries in the EU will follow the Dutch example with more countries taking a right-wing populist course. For elections in Belgium in June next year, Wilders’ sister party Vlaams Belang is doing well in the polls. Those elections are at the same time day like that for the European Parliament. Also during those elections a significant progress is expected of the radical right.
It is therefore no coincidence that Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán, the first European leader to publicly congratulate Wilders last week and call him, speaks of a wind of change. Orbán still sees Rutte as perhaps his greatest enemy. Three years ago, Orbán wondered in despair: “I don’t know what the Dutch Prime Minister’s personal reason is for hating me and Hungary so much. But he attacks so hard!”
Orbán may soon be sitting in the large Brussels meeting room with one of his greatest political friends, PVV leader Wilders.
2023-11-27 06:12:27
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