Far-right figures across Europe have congratulated the Dutch anti-Islam, anti-EU populist politician Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom (PVV) on being predicted to win the most seats in the Netherlands parliament, in an upset that opens the way for the PVV to play a key role in the formation of the next government.
The PVV was predicted to win 35 seats in the 150-seat parliament, according to exit polls, which means that to form a working majority, Wilders will still need to gain enough support to form a coalition.
In an initial reaction after the vote, Wilders said: “The campaign is over and the voters have spoken. Now we will have to look for agreements with each other. With a wonderful position of 35 seats, the PVV can no longer be ignored.”
Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orbán, congratulated Wilders prematurely on “winning the Dutch elections!”, saying the results showed “the winds of change are here!”
The French far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, congratulated Wilders and the PVV, saying the result “confirms the growing attachment to the defence of national identities”.
Belgium’s Tom Van Grieken, the leader of the far-right Vlaams Belang, said: “It is clear: the population is yearning for real change. Not only in the Netherlands, but also in Flanders. Parties like ours are coming all over Europe!”
Spain’s far-right Vox party leader, Santiago Abascal, characterised the result, in an election dominated by debates over immigration, as a clear signal: “More and more Europeans demand in the streets and at the polls that their nations, their borders and their rights be defended.”
The head of the anti-immigration League party and deputy prime minister of Italy, Matteo Salvini, called Wilders a “friend” and “ally of the League”, saying: “A new Europe is possible.”
Alice Weidel, the co-leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland party, said: “Congratulations on this great success. All of Europe wants political change.”
Habib El Kaddouri, the head of an organisation that represents Dutch Moroccans, said: “The distress and fear are enormous. Wilders is known for his ideas about Muslims and Moroccans. We are afraid that he will portray us as second-class citizens.”
Friends of the Earth Netherlands said: “A Wilders government will mean four years of climate change denial, exclusion and a breakdown of the rule of law.”
The leader of the GreenLeft-Labour party alliance, Frans Timmermans, said: “Democracy has spoken, now it’s time for us to defend democracy, to defend the rule of law. We have to make a fist against exclusion, against discrimination.”
The Conservative party leader, Dilan Yeşilgöz, meanwhile, expressed scepticism that Wilders would succeed in forming a government, saying: “It is up to Wilders to show he can form a majority. I don’t see it happening.”
Reuters contributed to this report
