Geert Wilders celebrates Dutch election exit poll results
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Geert Wilders is poised for a resounding victory in the Dutch parliamentary elections and exit polls tipped him to win, marking one of the most significant political upsets in the country since World War II.
Often dubbed the Dutch Donald Trump for his populist policies and shock of peroxide blond hair, Wilders seemed destined to a life in political opposition. Until now.
The election results, if confirmed, could potentially make Wilders the Netherlands’ first hard-right prime minister, introducing a new era of political dynamics in the heart of Europe.
His landslide victory seemed to take even him by surprise. Posting a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, he spread his arms wide, put his face in his hands and said โ35!โ – the number of seats his Party for Freedom, or PVV, is expected to have won according to an exit poll forecast.
But who is Geert Wilders? Express World takes a look at the man behind the policies.
Who is Geert Wilders?
Geert Wilders was born on September 6, 1963 in Venlo, Limburg in the Netherlands. He is the youngest of four children born to Johannes Henricus Andreas Wilders and Anne Maria (Ording) Wilders.
His early travels to Israel and the Middle East shaped his political views. He is a staunch supporter of Israel and advocates shifting the Embassy of the Netherlands there to Jerusalem. He became a member of the House of Representatives in 1998, and will become the longest-serving lawmaker in the Dutch parliament this year.
After leaving school and his time travelling, he initially worked for a health insurance company before becoming a speech-writer before starting his political career. He married his wife, Krisztina Wilders (nรฉe Mรกrfai) a former diplomat in 1992.
Wilders has also been dying his hair since the 1990s, and his bleach-blonde locks have earned him the nicknames Mozart, Captain Peroxide. He was even dubbed ‘the most famous bleach-blond since Marilyn Monroe’ but Radio Netherlands.
Wilders has two cats, Snoetje and Pluisje, who have their own account on X, formerly Twitter, with nearly 23,000 followers.
Geert Wilders’ policies
The populist leader’s election platform saw a range of controversial policies, including calls for a referendum on the Netherlands leaving the European Union, a complete halt to accepting asylum-seekers, and strict border controls to curb migrant inflows.
His programme also advocates for the “de-Islamisation” of the Netherlands, although Wilders has adopted a comparatively milder stance on Islam during this election campaign.
Geert Wilders, a 60-year-old political veteran, appears determined to seize power this time around. In the wake of Wednesday night’s election results, Wilders explicitly showed how serious he is this time.
He said: “I understand very well that parties do not want to be in a government with a party that wants unconstitutional measures. We are not going to talk about mosques, Qurans, and Islamic schools.”
Should centrist parties unite to keep Wilders out of power, as they have done in the past, there could be consequences with dissatisfied Dutch voters in the future.
Implications for the EU
Concerns are rising over the potential implications for the EU. While polling indicates that Dutch voters may not be inclined to follow the path of Brexit, the prospect of a Wilders-led government in The Hague is seen as a cause for alarm in Brussels.
The addition of Wilders to the EU summit table, alongside other far-right and nationalist leaders already in power, is expected to reshape the political landscape. This shift could lead to the reconsideration and even reversal of policies on crucial issues such as climate action, EU reform, and support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Even if Wilders is willing to compromise on calls for an EU referendum in exchange for political power at the bloc’s table, the mere possibility of his victory is already sparking fears across the EU capital.
Controversies
Wilders’ political journey has been marked by controversy, with the Dutch politician earning comparisons to former US President Donald Trump for his populist rhetoric and anti-establishment stance. Notably, Wilders was refused entry to the United Kingdom 14 years ago, with the Home Office citing concerns that his opinions “threaten community harmony and therefore public safety”.
He has recently attempted to soften his public image by tempering some of his most contentious stances. In a recent statement, he acknowledged that there are more urgent issues than decreasing the number of asylum-seekers and has toned down some of his anti-Islam viewpoints.
He vowed to restore trust in Dutch politics while maintaining a strong stance on immigration.
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