Dutch anti-Islam campaigner Gert Wilder has emerged as the key supporter in the newly formed minority government in the Netherlands. Among the deal-breaking pledges were a ban on the burqa, slashing public spending and a crackdown on immigrations.
Wilder’s Freedom party nearly tripled its votes in the elections, which were held 16 weeks ago. No clear winner emerged from the polls but Liberals, Christian Democrats and Wilders 24 seats have formed a minority coalition to lead parliament in The Hague.
The deal is not set in stone, with many in the Christian Democrats party feeling uneasy about the partnership with Wilder, who is set to appear in court on Monday on charges of inciting racism and hate speech. Wilder produced an internationally decried film ‘Fitna’ which was released in 2008 and spouted anti-Islamic propaganda.
Wilder won a pledge to introduce legislation to ban the burqa in the Netherlands in return for support in parliament. If passed, the Netherlands will join France, Switzerland and Belgium in banning the facial veil, which only a small percentage of Muslim women wear.
The minority government holds a meager 52 seats in the 150 parliament, but with Wilder’s support muster a wafer-thin majority of 76 seats. The new government will be inaugurated on Monday, coinciding with Wilder’s trial.
Wilders, who was at one time banned from entry into the United Kingdom under Gordon Brown’s government, is set to travel to Berlin over the weekend to talk to supporters about a pan-European movement against Islam.
