The Hague: The far-right, anti-Islam party led by Geert Wilders topped the legislative elections that took place in the Netherlands on Wednesday, according to what opinion polls showed when voters left the polls, in a major victory that threatens to cause a political earthquake not only in the Netherlands but in all of Europe and perhaps beyond .
According to a poll conducted by the Ipsos Institute, the far-right Freedom Party led by Wilders won 35 seats out of the 150 seats that make up the lower chamber of Parliament. This share represents a weight in a divided House of Representatives.
Wilders' anti-immigration rhetoric was supported by Dutch voters, but despite his huge victory, he did not guarantee the position of next prime minister.
In second place, according to the same poll, was the Left-Environmental Alliance led by Frans Timmermans, with 25 seats.
The center-right party won 24 seats, according to the same poll.
It seems that Wilders' anti-immigration rhetoric was supported by Dutch voters, but the politician, distinguished by his yellowish-white hair, was not guaranteed, despite his huge victory, the position of next prime minister.
“A force that cannot be ignored” -
Wilders stressed that his party has become a force that “can no longer be ignored,” calling on other parties to work with him to form a government coalition.
But this call was pre-empted by the leaders of the other three main parties by confirming, before the elections, that they would not participate in any government led by the Freedom Party.
However, shortly after casting his vote, populist politician Peter Omtsigt, who also takes a hard-line stance on immigration, said that he was “available” to lead the Netherlands, acknowledging at the same time that forming the next government coalition “will not be an easy process.”
Umtsigt leads the “New Social Contract” party, which was founded last summer, and this formation won 20 seats, according to the same poll.
On the other hand, Timmermans rejected the idea of joining a coalition led by Wilders. “It is time for us to defend democracy,” he said after the polls closed.
According to Diederik van Wijk, an expert at the Clingendael Institute, Wilders’ party “achieved a landslide victory that establishes a completely new dynamic.”
He added in a statement to Agence France-Presse that the rest of the parties made a strategic mistake by focusing on immigration, which was in the interest of the Freedom Party.
Last July, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the fall of his government due to “insurmountable” differences over immigration.
Only a few days passed until Rutte announced his desire to retire from politics after spending 13 years as Prime Minister, a record period in the Netherlands.
- Europe is watching -
Europe is closely monitoring these early elections, after Rutte played a key role in several issues, including strengthening the Eurozone and supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.
The center-right party nominated Dylan Jeselguz (46 years old) to succeed Rutte, hoping that she would become the first woman in the history of the Netherlands to head the government, but this refugee, in turn, pursued an anti-immigration policy.
The center-right party nominated Turkish-born Dylan Jesselguz in the hope that she would become the first woman in the history of the Netherlands to head the government, but this refugee opposes immigration and is open to an alliance with the far right.
This Turkish-born woman arrived in the Netherlands at the age of eight with her father as an asylum seeker, but now supports limiting immigration.
Yesiliguz came as a surprise when it announced its openness to the possibility of an alliance with the far-right BVV party.
Immigration, the cost of living, and the housing crisis, which particularly affects young people, were the most prominent headlines of the election campaign.
It took 271 days to form the last government, which is an unprecedented period.
If the final results confirm Wilders' victory, the Netherlands will have turned strongly towards the far right, with potential repercussions on the country's membership in the European Union.
The Freedom Party promised that if it came to power, it would organize a referendum on the Netherlands’ exit from the European Union.
Nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was quick to welcome the victory of the far right in the Netherlands, considering that the “winds of change” had blown in this country.
In turn, the leader of the French National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, congratulated Wilders and his party on their “amazing performance” in the elections.
Le Pen wrote in a post on the X platform (formerly Twitter): Congratulations to Geert Wilders and the Freedom Party on their amazing performance in the legislative elections, which confirms the growing connection to defending national identities. Because there are people who refuse to see the national flame extinguished, hope for change remains alive in Europe.”
Wilders has recently sought to improve his image with public opinion at home and abroad by modifying some of his positions.
“A very difficult period for Muslims has only just begun,” said Mohsen Koktas of the Muslim-Government Communications Commission.
The controversial politician stressed that there are more pressing problems than reducing the number of asylum seekers, and he also toned down some of his anti-Islam positions, stressing that if he wins, he will be “a prime minister for every person in the Netherlands, regardless of religion, origin, gender, or anything else.” “.
But the Freedom Party’s charter exudes xenophobia and anti-immigrants.
The party calls for combating immigration by restoring Dutch border controls, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants, returning Syrian asylum seekers, and reintroducing work permits for European Union citizens.
Mohsen Koktas of the Muslim-Government Communication Authority said, “A very difficult period for Muslims has only just begun.”
Sunak's government is considering interfering in the acquisition of a prestigious British newspaper by a UAE-backed company
London - The British Culture Secretary has warned that Abu Dhabi’s attempts to take over the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph could undermine “freedom of expression” and prevent “accurate representation of the news.”
The Times newspaper reported that Minister Lucy Fraser said that she was considering opening a regulatory investigation into whether the acquisition of Redbird IMI, which is backed by Abu Dhabi, could be against the public interest.
Ministers such as Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugant, Security Minister, expressed concern about the deal. Former journalists in one of the media institutions owned by the Emirati bidder said that they suffered from a “culture of fear” that limited freelance journalistic work.
Amnesty International said the takeover could have “serious repercussions” on media freedom.
The Telegraph and Spectator magazine were previously owned by the Barclay family, but the family lost ownership rights in June due to £1.2 billion owed to Lloyds Bank. It is trying to pay the loan with funds to be provided by RedBird IMI, a joint venture between RedBird Capital in the United States and International Media Investments owned by the owner of Manchester City, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.
Redbird AMI said that management would be entirely in its hands, while AMI would be a “passive investor.”
Fraser's ministry has written to Lloyds, the Barclays and Redbird IMI that it may issue an intervention order in the public interest, which could prompt regulatory bodies to investigate.
It requested more information and arrangements after the takeover and gave them until three o'clock in the evening, Thursday.
Neil O'Brien, a former Conservative MP, said: "I believe that anyone who wants to control important institutions should be subject to appropriate procedures, and no one should be able to circumvent it." Sir Ian Duncan Smith, former Conservative leader, commented: “One of the important things is that editorial independence at the Telegraph is absolutely essential, and many will be concerned about this and the possibility of it being handed over to a foreign government.”
Polly Truscott, policy advisor at Amnesty Britain, said: “Any UAE ownership of the Telegraph could have serious repercussions on media freedom in Britain and the government must carefully scrutinize it.” “In the Emirates, whoever dares to speak against the Emirati authorities likely faces great risks, as is clear with human rights activist Ahmed Mansour, who is currently imprisoned in a solitary confinement cell in Al Sidr prison in Abu Dhabi, where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for “insulting his position and position.” UAE,” among other charges. “In short, the Daily Telegraph must remain free to publish reports on cases such as Ahmed Mansoor and others, which the UAE authorities prefer to remain out of the media’s eye.”