Netherlands Embraces Far Right in EU Elections

I find this incredibly disturbing. This "movement" is happening all over Europe, and to me, offering an ill portent of things to come on this continent. Anyone who has studied history, will immediately note that this is the same sort of movement that swept Hitler and the Nazi Party into power in 1920s Germany. As philosopher George Santayana said, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

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By Andrew Willis
EU Observer

Neo-nazi jerkoffs look on as Geert Wilders campaigns in Leeuwarden, Netherlands (Photo: Jacco De Boer)

The Dutch far-right Freedom Party (PVV) of Total F*@king Whack-Job Geert Wilders made the greatest leap forward in the country's EU elections on Thursday (4 June), with 16.9 percent in exit polls. But the ruling conservatives came top overall.

The result is a major victory for the openly anti-Islamic party, giving it four seats in the European legislature and a possibility that this could rise to five once the final count is completed.

The Freedom Party came second only to the ruling Christian Democrats (CDA) of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, which exit polls suggest will win 20 percent of the vote or five of the 25 seats up for grabs.

This is a fall of four percent from the last European elections in 2004, resulting in the loss of two MEPs for the party.

As the xenophobic party's celebrations got under way, Mr Wilders said his success was a vote against the current administration and an overly costly EU.

"People have had enough of Europe as it is now - a big Europe with Turkey possibly joining - that we spend billions on each year," he said according to newswires.

"I think some people have also had enough of the Balkenende and Bos Cabinet," he added, referring to the prime minister and his Labour Party finance minister.

The results tally with pre-election predictions of greater support for far right and fringe parties as a result of the economic crisis and fears over immigration in the country.

The Labour Party - the junior coalition partner in the government - appeared the main loser in Thursday's vote, taking only 12.2 percent of the vote resulting in a drop from seven to three seats in the European parliament....(Click for remainder.)