Geert Wilders (Dutch far-right populist) views himself as a "right-wing liberal." First time

[pampango]

I've heard the term.

"He has been described in the media as populist and labeled far right, though this is disputed by other observers. Wilders, who has refused to align himself with other European far-right leaders such as Jean-Marie Le Pen (France's National Front) and Jörg Haider (Austria's Freedom Party), views himself as a right-wing liberal and has expressed concern of being "linked with the wrong rightist fascist groups."

Wilders published the version of his political manifesto called Klare Wijn ("Clear Wine") in March 2006. The program proposed ten key points to be implemented: How many of these can be considered "liberal"?)

1. Considerable reduction of taxes and state regulations.
2. Replacement of the present Article 1 of the Dutch constitution, guaranteeing equality under the law, by a clause stating the cultural dominance of the Christian, Jewish and humanist traditions.
3. Reduction of the influence of the European Union, which may no longer be expanded with new member states, especially Turkey; the European Parliament will be abolished. Dutch financial contributions to the European Union should be reduced by billions of euros.
4. A five year moratorium on the immigration of non-Western foreigners who intend to stay in the Netherlands. Foreign residents will no longer have the right to vote in municipal elections. Interesting that they currently allow foreigners to vote in municipal elections.
5. A five-year moratorium on the founding of new mosques and Islamic schools; a permanent ban on preaching in any language other than Dutch. Foreign imams will not be allowed to preach. Radical mosques will be closed and radical Muslims will be expelled.
6. Restoration of educational standards, with an emphasis on the educational value of the family.
7. Introduction of binding referenda and elected mayors, chiefs of police and prime ministers.
8. Introduction of minimum penalties, and higher maximum penalties; introduction of administrative detention for terrorist suspects. Street terrorism will be punished by boot camps and denaturalisation and deportation of immigrant offenders.
9. Restoration of respect and better rewards for teachers, policemen, health care workers and military personnel.
10.Instead of complicated reorganisation, a more accessible and humane health care system, especially for elderly citizens.

Perhaps 9 and 10 (maybe 7) can be considered "liberal" positions depending on knowing all the specifics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geert_Wilders

How many conservative positions can you have and still call yourself a "liberal" anything?"

[Drale]

1. The "Liberal Democrats" in Japan are about as far right as you can go

I guess the word Liberal means different things in different languages.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Yes. I don't think our kind of liberal is called liberal in many other places.

[HereSince1628]

3. liberal can also mean laissez faire

as it does in the term neo-liberal to describe opponents to FDR and the deregulation, lower tax movement that has dominated US economics since the 1980's.

[frazzled]

4. Liberal has a different meaning in Europe

and generally, today, involves an economic perspective of limited government intervention in the economy. Quite the opposite of what we think liberal means.

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. Conservative domination is a multi-generational game.

You say whatever you have to say to asuage the fears of those resistant to conservative domination so you can:
- get into government,
- stay in government,
- forward the incremental changes to push government toward conservative domination and
- get your compatriots into all levels of government with you to help push the center to the right.

You can't do any of this by jumping out and going full dictator. It takes time. Nixon appears more liberal now than he did in the early 1970s. Reagan appears more liberal now than he did in 1984.

It's a deliberate multi-generational process. That is why it is so important to conservatives to build wealthy dynasties. Not sure why folks at DU still seem to be unaware of if.