That’s why Putin celebrates the Dutch Hammer

That’s why Putin celebrates the Dutch Hammer

The winner on election night himself had not expected so much support: “We have 37 seats, can you imagine that?” Geert Wilders (60) shouted to his supporters. and celebrated the victory of his anti-Islam and anti-EU Freedom Party (PVV) in the Dutch parliamentary elections with champagne.

2,500 kilometers further east, the cork has apparently popped: in Moscow, Wilder’s election success was extensively celebrated on state television. He was the only Dutch politician who continued to kowtow to the Kremlin tyrants, even after MH17 was shot down by pro-Russian separatists while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur (298 people died).

Failure: The red-green coalition of former EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans (25 of 150 seats) and the right-wing liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD, 24) have been doing significantly better in surveys for a long time.

The most important question about the election earthquake

► Who is Wilders? Often referred to as the “Dutch Trump,” he established his image by: Copying his slogans. But he founded his own authoritarian party in 2006 after embroiling his fellow right-wing Liberals in controversy.

►Why is it so controversial? Because in his fight against foreign infiltration he does not differentiate between Islam and Islamists. He wants a complete ban on mosques and the Koran. He called Moroccan immigrants “scum.”

► Does he know Putin? Seemingly! In 2018 he was invited to give a speech in the Duma and was an interview guest for the Kremlin propaganda channel RT several times. There was talk of “Russophobia,” mocking the experts who had warned early on about Putin’s ambitions for a Greater Russia. Months after the invasion began, concerns remain over EU sanctions against Moscow and Western military aid to Ukraine.

► If Wilders comes to power, will it be beneficial for Putin? Yes, Russian state television told viewers yesterday. Because: Wilders wants to end military support for Ukraine – which would mean the end of the “fighting alliance”, which primarily refers to Dutch F-16 fighter jets.

He also supports an immediate negotiated end to the war – which, as far as we know, Ukraine will not take part in until Russian invasion forces are fully withdrawn.

Congratulations from Germany from Weidel

► Will he run NEXIT? If his compatriots follow him: yes. His plan calls for a “binding referendum” on Brexit. He wants to close the borders early. His supporters especially hate the euro. During the campaign, Wilders was photographed holding a Dutch guilder flower and a picture of himself on it.

► What would his victory mean for America? If the guest speaker at the Dresden “Pegida” march actually takes the stage, it could give the Alternative for Germany a boost! Alice Weidel, parliamentary group leader of the Alternative for Germany, was one of the first to congratulate people from Germany yesterday.

And: “Brexit” would also be twice as expensive for us – as another EU net contributor would be eliminated. Tariffs make tomatoes, tulips and Gouda cheese more expensive. Not to mention the impending truck traffic jam at the border…

Those: www.bild.de