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18 Feb 2017

Wilders vows to ‘de-Islamise’ the Netherlands

The Dutch general election next month shows all the signs of following a now familiar pattern: a populist movement rising up to upset the established political order. The far-right Freedom Party is on course to win the most seats and is appealing to an electorate ready to hear anti-immigration and eurosceptic rhetoric. Today its leader Geert Wilders launched his election campaign promising to “de-Islamise” the nation, calling some Moroccans “scum”… but even if he wins, will he be capable of forming a Government?