So far in the Netherlands, one of the traditional centrist parties has always won the most votes. Now the ultra-right Geert Wilders wins. He wants to rule, but the competition hopes to be able to prevent that.
After the provincial elections in the spring, the Dutch are having this experience again: waking up after election day and everything is different, politics is completely mixed up. To speak of a surprise this time is an understatement; everywhere there was talk of a “historic” result. For the first time ever, it wasn’t one of the traditional center parties that got the most votes, but rather one from the far right: Geert Wilders, one of the continent’s most relentless critics of Islam, a tough nationalist who wants to leave the EU, a confirmed xenophobe, who wants to reduce the number of asylum seekers “immediately to zero”. This politician could actually become the new head of government of Germany’s neighboring country.