Geert Wilders makes a show of respecting the law
Muslims, and other politicians, worry that it will last only until the Dutch populist enters government
FOR MOST European parties, forgoing an effort to ban the Koran would not count as a big concession. But Geert Wilders, whose Party for Freedom (PVV) came first in the Netherlands’ election last November with 24% of the vote, wants it to be seen that way. Mr Wilders, a veteran among Europe’s rising hard-right populists, has a history of bashing Islam, the EU and the courts. He is negotiating to form a coalition with three other parties, who worry about his commitment to the constitution. Mr Wilders now says he wants to be a prime minister “for all Dutch” regardless of religion. To prove it the PVV on January 8th withdrew three longstanding proposals for unconstitutional laws, including a ban on Muslim religious expression.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Constitutional horse-trading”
Europe January 27th 2024
- Giorgia Meloni has proved the doubters wrong
- Germany strikes a brave new deal on immigration
- Geert Wilders makes a show of respecting the law
- Many Austrians feel their way of life is under threat
- Europe’s new plan to safeguard its economy
- The EU’s €50bn package for Ukraine is a far cry from its rhetoric
From the January 27th 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionDiscover more
Marine Le Pen spooks the bond markets
She threatens to bring down the French government, but also faces a possible ban from politics
The maths of Europe’s military black hole
It needs to spend to defend, but voters may balk
Ukraine’s warriors brace for a Kremlin surge in the south
Vladimir Putin’s war machine is pushing harder and crushing Ukrainian morale
Vladimir Putin fires a new missile to amplify his nuclear threats
The attack on Ukraine is part of a new era of missile warfare
A rise in antisemitism puts Europe’s liberal values to the test
The return of Europe’s oldest scourge
Once dominant, Germany is now desperate
As an election looms its business model is breaking down