Red carpet for Wilders

In the dispute over the Afghanistan mission the Christian Democrats (CDA) and the social democratic Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) have merely been looking to their own interests, the daily Trouw writes, commenting that this suits the right-wing populist Freedom Party (PVV) just fine as it could become the second power in the Dutch parliament: "The attitude of the traditionally internationalist PvdA is bitterly disappointing. It seems the party has been frightened by the opinion polls and modelled itself too closely on the right and left wing populists who aren't willing to lift a finger to fight violent extremism in the world. And its failure plays right into the hands of the populists. The message of congratulations from PVV leader [Geert] Wilders to [Social Democrat Wouter] Bos speaks volumes. ... As a new CDP-PvdA coalition is pretty much out of the question, a cabinet including the PVV is growing ever more likely. For many that is a frightening prospect. So far the leaders of the PvdA and CDA have failed to make it clear that they understand the consequences such an outcome would have."

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