In a surprising turn of events, the Dutch politician Geert Wilders, often compared to the former U.
S. President Donald Trump for his populist political approach, has emerged victorious in a recent election.
This victory has positioned him to potentially form the next ruling party and ascend to the position of the Netherlands' Prime Minister.
Wilders, 60, who has been a perpetual figure in the opposition, was visibly taken aback by the exit poll results. In a video posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, he expressed his astonishment by simply uttering "35!" - the number of seats his Party for Freedom (PVV) is projected to have secured in the 150-seat lower house of parliament.
Wilders' only brush with governance was in 2010 when he supported the first coalition formed by Prime Minister Mark Rutte. However, he did not formally join the minority administration and caused its downfall after a mere 18 months over disagreements on austerity measures. Since then, mainstream parties have kept their distance.
In his victory speech at a small bar in a suburb of The Hague, Wilders told his jubilant supporters, "The PVV wants to, from a fantastic position with 35 seats that can totally no longer be ignored by any party, cooperate with other parties."
Wilders' fiery stance against Islam has made him a target for extremists, necessitating constant protection for years. He has been a victim of death threats and has had to move between safe houses for nearly two decades. In 2009, the British government denied him entry, citing a threat to "community harmony and therefore public security."
In an attempt to appeal to mainstream voters in this election, Wilders moderated his rhetoric and shifted his focus from his usual "de-Islamization" of the Netherlands to practical issues like housing shortages, cost-of-living crisis, and access to quality healthcare.
Despite this, his campaign platform still advocates for a referendum on the Netherlands leaving the European Union, an "asylum stop," and "no Islamic schools, Qurans and mosques." However, he assured on Wednesday night that he would not violate Dutch laws or the country's constitution that guarantees freedom of religion and expression.
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