How to deal with Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom?

Right-wing populist Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) has for the first time been described as right-wing extremist by an academic study. This establishes a dangerous trend, writes the daily Trouw. "Leaving semantics aside, there is still the question of whether the PVV can be termed right-wing extremist on strictly scientific grounds. There are certainly plenty of other scholars ready to contest this view. It seems also to make little sense, because even without such labels everyone knows what Wilders stands for. He and his party pursue several absurd and often objectionable goals, but they do this in abidance of the rules of our parliamentary democracy, and they do not shy away from debate. For this reason it makes far more sense to engage the party in dialogue over its positions, and if necessary to fight these tooth and nail. ... If the party's agenda is truly unacceptable, it is up to a judge to pass sentence on it. Otherwise we should do our best to avoid dangerous labels and strive for dialogue."

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Netherlands

» To the complete press review of Friday, December 12, 2008