Dec 13, 2023 at 9:08 PM Update: 7 hours ago
PVV leader Geert Wilders was confronted on Wednesday in the election debate about issues from the past: his alleged friendship with Russia, the questioning of independent judges and the call for fewer Moroccans. But the PVV member refuses to make any form of apology.
“I am not going to discuss, take back or put into context anything about the past,” Wilders was immediately clear. He didn’t do that in the campaign and nothing has changed since then.
But, he said afterwards: “We now have a different role. I was in the role of opposition leader. I am now in the role of the leader of the largest party. Also a party that will immediately negotiate with an informateur.”
That gives other responsibilities, the PVV member acknowledged. “That involves a different role. I will be happy to fulfill that.”
Ronald Plasterk appointed as informant
Ronald Plasterk can immediately continue as an informant after his work as a scout. A majority in the House of Representatives agrees that he will lead the “short information round” he himself suggested with PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB.
After the exploratory phase, Plasterk noted that there is a basis for negotiations between these parties, but that NSC in particular has concerns about some of the PVV’s positions.
‘Wilders must withdraw statements and apologize’
The debate partly revolved around the question to what extent Wilders, as a major election winner, can still become Prime Minister of all Dutch people. Many other party leaders doubt whether he is suitable for that. Not only because of his anti-Islamic views, but also because he refuses to apologize for past statements, such as the ‘head rag tax’.
“Wouldn’t we want to see a leader who also dares to reflect and dares to say: I was wrong?”, CDA member Henri Bontenbal asked Wilders.
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“If Wilders is serious about becoming a prime minister for all Dutch people, then he should withdraw all those statements from the past and apologize to those Dutch people whom he has deeply offended,” said Frans Timmermans of GL-PvdA.
“I don’t have to do anything,” Wilders replied to the questions about apologies. He did not really do his best to dispel doubts about his new role.
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Timmermans compares Wilders to a shark from Finding Nemo
For NSC, protection of fundamental rights is important
The question is also to what extent the party can change on some points. “Islam will never leave our DNA,” Wilders said in the campaign itself. Although he would like to park the most controversial points, such as a ban on mosques, if there is a place in the coalition for this.
VVD, NSC and BBB can make that place possible. At least if those parties are prepared to negotiate with the PVV on substantive points. Then they must first agree on how the Constitution, fundamental rights and the rule of law should be protected.
That is a formality for VVD and BBB, as became clear in recent weeks during the exploration and today during the debate. But NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt has major doubts about this towards Wilders and the PVV.
For NSC, the protection of fundamental rights is very important. The PVV program does not invite people to enter into a coalition with that party, says Omtzigt.
PVV leader Geert Wilders and Pieter Omtzigt (NSC). Photo: ANP
Omtzigt seems to offer an opening for negotiations with PVV
Yet Omtzigt seems to offer an opening. Omtzigt has quite literally “not read in any election manifesto” the removal of fundamental rights, such as freedom of religion or a fair trial. If this were to be proposed, the Netherlands would still be bound by international treaties that do not allow this.
In addition to a major change to the Constitution, the Netherlands would also have to leave the European Union, for example. Omtzigt: “I haven’t seen anyone suggest that.”
Whether this really removes Omtzigt’s doubts about Wilders and the PVV will become clear in the coming weeks.
2023-12-13 20:08:00
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