The elections in the Netherlands were won by the far right with stunning results. The anti-European far-right Freedom Party (PVV) is led by Geert Wilders, who does not support further arms transfers to Ukraine.
The Freedom Party (PVV), led by far-right politician Geert Wilders, who opposes immigration, Islam and the country’s EU membership, has won parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. This victory continued the political trend in Europe, which is characterized by the growing popularity of right-wing and far-right parties. However, the political system of the Netherlands is structured in such a way that this victory does not mean that Wilders will necessarily take the prime minister’s seat.
Trump from the Netherlands
Wilders is known for his fiery speeches, anti-immigrant and anti-Islamic statements. He’s been dying his hair for nearly 30 years, which is why he’s nicknamed the “Dutch Trump.”
His categorical anti-Islam stance not only alienated Wilders from the mainstream parties, but also made him a target for Islamic extremists. As a result, Wilders lived under 24-hour police protection for nearly 20 years. At the same time, he said that there were no threats to force him to remain silent.
In 2014, Wilders was found guilty of insulting the Moroccan people.
He is a strong supporter of Israel and advocates moving the Dutch embassy to Jerusalem and closing the diplomatic mission in Ramallah (West Bank).
It is not a fact that he will become prime minister
The victory of the Freedom Party in the elections does not guarantee Wilders the position of prime minister.
The Dutch political landscape has traditionally been very fragmented. There is no obstacle in the electoral law, and any party that receives more than 60 thousand votes can enter the parliament. Coalition government is the norm, not the exception, as in Britain, for example.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s last government took 271 days to form.
Given the number of parties in the Dutch parliament, forming a coalition may be a more important step than the actual elections. Most analysts do not expect a new cabinet to emerge until mid-2024.
Today, the country is still led by Mark Rutte.
The importance of the election for Ukraine
Wilders supports the political course of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and opposes Ukraine’s entry into the EU and NATO.
He also believes that the military aid provided by the Netherlands to Ukraine can be used to strengthen and expand the military capabilities within the country.
Since the beginning of the general war, the Netherlands has been one of Ukraine’s biggest partners.
In total, the country, according to the Kiel Institute of International Economics, gave Ukraine almost 2.5 billion euros in military aid and 1 billion in financial aid.
The current government of the Netherlands, led by Mark Rutte, has pledged another $2 billion in military aid to Ukraine next year.
While the formation of a new coalition is underway, the policy of the Netherlands towards Ukraine will not change. In the future, everything depends on its composition.
Even if Wilders manages the prime minister’s seat, it is far from certain that the reduction in aid to Ukraine will be supported by his coalition partners. So Kyiv needs to be patient.
President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte had a telephone conversation about further support for Ukraine. Zelensky noted that he spoke with Rutte about efforts to maintain European unity and the importance of continued military and financial support for Ukraine.
“In this context, the recent decision of the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with an additional 2 billion euros in 2024 is the best signal for other partners. I thank the Netherlands for all the help, as well as for supporting the peace formula of Ukraine and humanitarian initiative,” said Zelensky.
Rutte, for his part, noted that they discussed “the current situation and the approach of winter,” and that the Netherlands stands in solidarity with the Ukrainians and supports Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.