Geert Wilders, the popular leader of the Dutch PVV (Freedom) Party, is well known for his anti-Islam and anti-immigrant viewpoints. Dutch Moroccans are his favourite target, who are systematically put down by Wilders as criminal, extremist, terrorist, and benefit scrounging untermenschen.
The Dutch have now been debating for years whether Wilders' public statements are racist or not (see here). To me, this is somehow puzzling, as what else can you call the stereotyping and scapegoating of entire population groups?
Why this hesitance? Part of the explanation is that most mainstream Dutch politicians have become terrified of Wilders.They have even been taking over many of his viewpoints on immigration in attempts to win back votes. The right-wing liberal VVD party, in particular, has done its best to copy PVV's anti-immigration, anti-diversity (see here) and 'law and order' viewpoints.These strategies have failed, but have made Wilders' viewpoints respectable.
They also avoid very harsh attacks against Wilders because they may need his party to form the next coalition government. After all, the PVV is now the biggest or second biggest party in national polls.
In other words, politicians are afraid to call Wilders a racist because he has become too powerful. Yesterday, he went one step further during a speech to celebrate his party's victory in local elections in The Hague (see video)
- Wilders: "I ask you. Do you want, in this city, and in the Netherlands, more or fewer Moroccans"
- Audience: "Fewer, fewer, fewer.... " (shouting)
- Wilders: "Then we will fix this" (audience and Wilders laugh)
Innocent: no. Deliberate:yes. Racist: yes.
Yet once again, PM Rutte of the VVD party stated this week that he does not rule out the possibility of forming a next government with Geert Wilders, who already gave vital support to Rutte's previous government.
To be honest, this makes me angry and scares the hell out of me. Not so much because of what Wilders says (racism is of all ages after all), but because he gets away with it (not in the legal, but in the moral sense), because mainstream politicians lack the moral compass, courage and self-confidence to go in the counter-attack, show solidarity and identify with fellow Dutch citizens of Moroccan origin or Islamic faith.
What we need is a Prime Minister who has the guts to say: "I am a Moroccan". That would be real leadership. What we get is cowardice.
As my colleague Ann Singleton said on Twitter yesterday: "Shocking times across Europe - racist parties are again becoming respectable power brokers". Cynical power politics apparently justify sacrificing any principle. It is a dangerous slippery slope.
Great piece. Thank you very much for this.
ReplyDeleteFully agree with you!. (& Proud to be a 'Dutch' [with Moroccan roots]!)
ReplyDeleteIt´s a very nice appointment thank you for say what everyone else know, but hide or speak in lines, yes it is racist.
ReplyDeleteWhat a relieve,to read your words. We are very angry and also scared this kind of behavior is allowed in the Netherlands. Worse, it's accepted politics.
ReplyDeleteI have to point out to you that there is a counter attack going on in the Netherlands. In fact, almost every political party has stated to find the statements of Wilders horrible. The prime minister has also made this statement. And at the moment, it is the main topic of every newspaper, twitter and facebookfeed. The entire country is in an uproar against his statements. Unfortunately, he still has many followers. But luckily, most people are shocked by his statements and agree that he has gone to far.
ReplyDeleteI agree there is a quite impressive counter-attack going on. However, many politicians' outrage is hypocritical, as they have tolerated his racist and divisive comments for years and have been copying his intolerant attitudes and anti-immigrant policies. And, significantly, PM Rutte has still not excluded collaboration with Wilders' PVV party.
DeleteUnfortunately in Dutch - http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1405893
ReplyDeleteFrom 11:08 min.
Prem says it correct i think. In short, because Wilders is allowed to speak his mind like he did, most of Holland is massively counteracting with protests showing our love for our fellow citizens (no matter what ethnic nationality). If we wouldn't have freedom of speech i wonder if this would have been the case!? I do agree that politicians should join these open counter protests.
Dutch politicians should stop talking about 'Moroccans' but address them as Dutch citizens. This is where the problem starts. Language matters.
ReplyDeletehow can he allowed to say things like this? He is inciting hatred violence and a racial riot. I grew up in a country where my parenst had to flee due to racial riots and we all had to learn to live in harmony inspite of racial and religious difference, or else the price is high... perhaps Netherlands has more to learn to mature.
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