Concern grows as xenophobic Wilders garners support
Migrants in the Netherlands have expressed dismay after the xenophobic Freedom Party nearly tripled its representation in the country’s parliament in Wednesday’s elections.
On the campaign trail, Freedom Party (PVV) leader Geert Wilders (pictured) railed against immigrants and called for a ban on the Koran, a tax on Muslim headscarves and a bar on the construction of new mosques.
It came third with 24 seats, behind Labour (PvdA), which bagged 30, and the neoliberal VVD party, which garnered 36.
The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) of former prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende only secured 21 seats.
The leaders of all 10 parties that won parliament seats visited Queen Beatrix on Friday, who is now expected to name a negotiator to open preliminary talks among potential coalition partners.
In order to find the minimum 76 seats needed to govern, the VVD is expected to either seek a coalition with the PVV and the CDA or form a government with the PvdA and other smaller parties.
Andre Nkeshimana, president of Izere, an association for the Burundian Diaspora in the Netherlands, said: “As a foreigner, I feel especially threatened if the winning party is going to work with a party like the PVV which does not hide its position vis-a-vis foreigners, mainly Muslims.
“I am not Muslim but the position of the party worries me,” Mr Nkeshimana declared.
Mahad Somalia Musa, president of the association of the Somali Diaspora, described the result as a “huge blow to all immigrants and especially for Africans.”
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Source: Morning Star
Category: News |
