Geert Wilders—kingmaker in the Dutch political crisis

[Hannah Bell]

Talks aimed at forming a new Dutch government broke down last week following the withdrawal from coalition negotiations of Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right, anti-Islamist Party for Freedom (PVV). The Netherlands has lacked a government since elections took place three months ago, and now the country’s monarch has been given the task of making a new proposal to overcome the political paralysis prevailing in Holland.

The national elections held on June 9 witnessed a narrow victory for the right-wing, pro-business People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) led by Mark Rutte, which won 31 seats. One seat behind was the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA), with 30. Placing third with 24 seats was Wilders’ PVV, which was able to nearly triple its total of deputies compared to the previous election. Trailing fourth in the election was the conservative Christian Democratic Action CDA (21 seats).

The CDA had led the last Dutch government but had encountered increasing popular opposition due to its harsh economic measures and its foreign policy—in particular its failure to abide by a promise to withdraw Dutch troops from Afghanistan. In the June 9 election the CDA received a drubbing and lost nearly half of its parliamentary seats.

Following the election VVD leader Mark Rutte had declared he was open to negotiations with all parties but favoured an alliance with Wilders’ PVV. Following opposition from inside the CDA, Rutte then commenced talks aimed at forming a coalition with the Dutch Labour Party, GroenLinks (Green-Left) and the radical-democrat Democracy 66.

Rutte’s chief objective was to win support for his proposed economic measures. In the summer election campaign Rutte made clear he intends to adopt a strictly neo-liberal economic policy. Rutte had called for a “small and compact state” and severe austerity measures based on cutting €18 billion from the federal budget in the next legislative period. This is to be done primarily in the areas of health and social policy, culture and development aid.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/sep2010/neth-s09.shtml

[TheBigotBasher]

1. I hope they can form some left - right coalition

to keep this fascist piece of crap well away from power. The Dutch need to learn from history and quickly.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. He may end up being like the Shas party in Israel

[KamaAina]

3. CDA (repukes) lose around 20 seats, Wilders (teabagger) picks up 16

You figure it out. :scared:

What happened to the liberal, tolerant Netherlands we once knew? :shrug: