Wilders shocks the Netherlands

Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders has announced he will give a speech against the planned construction of a mosque on Ground Zero in New York. Politicians and diplomats fear an anti-Muslim tirade from the MP, whose Party for Freedom (PVV) intends to support the planned minority government. Wilders is damaging the Netherlands' reputation, writes the daily De Morgen: "Wilders does as he pleases, even when he sees that it causes trouble for the government. ... Wilders laughs off any criticism. He is not in government and therefore bears no responsibility. In other words: he can be irresponsible. Geert Wilders is a successful gambler balancing on the fringes of democracy. And such a man is being allowed to pull the strings in the already unstable Netherlands, which has not yet recovered from the earthquake triggered by [the murder of right-wing populist] Pim Fortuyn in 2002. This country which once occupied a pioneering role seems now to have lost its orientation."

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