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LeMonde
21 hours ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Dutch far-right voters waver between doubt and conviction ahead of October elections
This is the city of "Henk and Ingrid." These are the names of two fictional characters created by far-right leader Geert Wilders to personify an average Dutch couple – the people he has promised to defend against "the system," "the elite," "the left-wing clerics," and, of course, foreigners. In Spijkenisse, a city of around 73,000 residents located in the suburbs of Rotterdam and the main entity in the newly merged municipality of Nissewaard, Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV, far-right) achieved a record result in the 2023 parliamentary elections with 38% of the vote. The PVV became the leading party in the Netherlands, winning 37 out of 150 seats in the Tweede Kamer ("Second Chamber," the lower house of parliament), and subsequently formed a government. Their government has since proven to be a chaotic experiment: The coalition led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof collapsed in June after just 336 days in power following a crisis triggered by Wilders, who was frustrated with his three coalition partners' refusal to endorse his platform. Among other measures, the platform included declaring a state of emergency to halt immigration, deporting 60,000 Syrian refugees and putting an end to all family reunification. In Spijkenisse, a city that was long considered one of the poorest in the Netherlands but which now strives to attract middle-class residents who are moving away from downtown Rotterdam, a couple of retirees we met at the shopping center were not named Henk and Ingrid, but Nico and Caroline. They spoke while strolling between a nail salon, discount stores and a fast-food kebab restaurant. "Wilders wanted to defend ordinary people, but he did nothing, achieved nothing before bringing down the government!" said Nico. Did he vote for the PVV? Nico, a former Rotterdam port worker, would not say, but he asserted that Wilders would "for sure" not get his vote on October 29, the date when the country will hold new parliamentary elections. As for Caroline, she no longer intends to vote. "All that circus for nothing," she said with a sigh. On the local level, Spijkenisse has always been politically dominated by a local group named Ons ("We"), which holds 10 of the 37 seats on the municipal council (compared to three for the PVV).
Time Magazine
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Why Europe's Far Right Will Keep Gaining Ground
The 2015 migrant crisis still hangs over Europe. The more than 1.3 million migrants—particularly from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq—who claimed asylum that year has been a boon for grievance-driven European populism and its most talented practitioners. The upshot is a cultural and economic anxiety that has transformed the continent's political landscape. And yet, the first 10 years of the far right's rise have amounted to a 'yes, but' decade. In Germany, the Alternative for Germany party has steadily expanded its regional and federal influence, but all other major parties still treat political collaboration with it as taboo. In France, the populist Marine Le Pen has shown she can reach the second round of presidential elections, but has been unable to claim victory. In Italy, Giorgia Meloni in 2022 became the first anti-immigrant populist to win a big European election, but her strong cooperation with Brussels and consistent support for Ukraine has helped her defy far-right stereotypes. In the U.K., Brexit champion Nigel Farage might now be polling in first place, but that's still some distance from winning the next general elections in 2029. Centrist governments have also emerged this year after elections in Germany and Romania, despite a rise in support for the far right. Meanwhile, the Dutch government, led by the far-right Party for Freedom, collapsed in June, and the Austrian Freedom Party has failed to form a ruling coalition despite winning elections in September. For now, E.U. institutions are holding up fine. Pro-E.U. parties continue to dominate politics in Brussels and the risk that Euroskeptics can create gridlock remains low. In the European Parliament, the centrist coalition that backed Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as European Commission President will hold together despite growing tensions. In the European Council, just four of 27 members (Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, and the Czech Republic) are led by nationalist governments. But Brussels has finally managed to limit the ability of far-right governments to shift E.U. policies, and Meloni and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala cooperate closely with von der Leyen. All that said, the next few years will offer big opportunities from Europe's anti-migrant, Euroskeptic far right. Questions about economic resilience and stubbornly high prices remain the main sources of economic anxiety for voters. Even as immigration policies have been tightened and the number of asylum seekers in Europe has fallen, the long-term presence of migrants amid stagnating economies will continue to feed voter anger. The economic pressures applied by Donald Trump's trade war compound public frustration with their current governments. In short, there's no reason to believe far-right parties and politicians will fall silent or fail to score future political gains at the expense of beleaguered centrist establishments. Two years from now, far-right parties will have their best-ever shot at capitalizing on mounting voter anger with national elections in France, Italy, Spain, and Poland. In France, though Le Pen is currently barred from seeking the presidency following an embezzlement conviction in March, her National Rally party could finally sweep to power in the heart of Europe. In Italy, Meloni will face pressure to adopt more Euroskeptic positions on high-profile issues in the run-up to elections. In Spain, the center-right Popular Party will likely lead the next government but could be forced to welcome the far-right Vox into a coalition for the first time. In Poland, steadily eroding support for Prime Minister Donald Tusk could pave the way for a return of right-wing nationalist parties to power there. The far-right Karol Nawrocki has already prevailed in the June presidential elections, and he will take office in August. Taken together, these developments would shift the balance of power in the populists' favor, transforming how the E.U. defines its values and its interests. The potential fallout—whether on the rule of law, security and economic matters, internal borders, dealing with an expansionist Russia, or even the future of the E.U. itself—remains grave.
04-07-2025
- Politics
A bill setting new limits on asylum-seekers passes in the Dutch parliament
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- A pair of bills cracking down on asylum-seekers wishing to settle in the Netherlands has passed in the Dutch parliament after wrangling and soul-searching by some lawmakers who feared the law would criminalize offering compassionate help to undocumented migrants. The legislation cuts temporary asylum residency from five to three years, indefinitely suspends the issuance of new asylum residency permits and reins in family reunions for people who have been granted asylum. It passed in the lower house late Thursday evening but could still be rejected in the upper house. The Dutch Red Cross has estimated 23,000 to 58,000 people live in the Netherlands without an official right to residence. Taking tough measures to rein in migration was a policy cornerstone for the four-party coalition led by the Party for Freedom of anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders. The coalition collapsed last month after just 11 months in office, and migration is expected to be a key issue ahead of the snap election Oct. 29. Wilders pulled the plug on the coalition saying it was taking too long to enact moves to rein in migration. His coalition partners rejected the criticism, saying they all backed the crackdown. His party currently holds a narrow lead in opinion polls over a center-left two-party bloc that recently agreed to a formal merger. The opposition Christian Democrats withdrew their support for the legislation put to the vote Thursday over a late amendment that would criminalize people living in the Netherlands without a valid visa or asylum ruling — and would also criminalize people and organizations that help such undocumented migrants. The amendment was introduced by a member of Wilders' party and passed narrowly because a small number of opposition lawmakers were not present for the vote. The vote took place in the final session of parliament before lawmakers broke for the summer. The upper house will consider the legislation after it returns from the recess. If Christian Democrats in the upper chamber reject it, the legislation will be returned to the lower house.
Hamilton Spectator
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
A bill setting new limits on asylum-seekers passes in the Dutch parliament
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A pair of bills cracking down on asylum-seekers wishing to settle in the Netherlands has passed in the Dutch parliament after wrangling and soul-searching by some lawmakers who feared the law would criminalize offering compassionate help to undocumented migrants. The legislation cuts temporary asylum residency from five to three years, indefinitely suspends the issuance of new asylum residency permits and reins in family reunions for people who have been granted asylum. It passed in the lower house late Thursday evening but could still be rejected in the upper house. The Dutch Red Cross has estimated 23,000 to 58,000 people live in the Netherlands without an official right to residence. Taking tough measures to rein in migration was a policy cornerstone for the four-party coalition led by the Party for Freedom of anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders. The coalition collapsed last month after just 11 months in office, and migration is expected to be a key issue ahead of the snap election Oct. 29. Wilders pulled the plug on the coalition saying it was taking too long to enact moves to rein in migration. His coalition partners rejected the criticism, saying they all backed the crackdown. His party currently holds a narrow lead in opinion polls over a center-left two-party bloc that recently agreed to a formal merger. The opposition Christian Democrats withdrew their support for the legislation put to the vote Thursday over a late amendment that would criminalize people living in the Netherlands without a valid visa or asylum ruling — and would also criminalize people and organizations that help such undocumented migrants. The amendment was introduced by a member of Wilders' party and passed narrowly because a small number of opposition lawmakers were not present for the vote. The vote took place in the final session of parliament before lawmakers broke for the summer. The upper house will consider the legislation after it returns from the recess. If Christian Democrats in the upper chamber reject it, the legislation will be returned to the lower house. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
04-07-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
A bill setting new limits on asylum-seekers passes in the Dutch parliament
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A pair of bills cracking down on asylum-seekers wishing to settle in the Netherlands has passed in the Dutch parliament after wrangling and soul-searching by some lawmakers who feared the law would criminalize offering compassionate help to undocumented migrants. The legislation cuts temporary asylum residency from five to three years, indefinitely suspends the issuance of new asylum residency permits and reins in family reunions for people who have been granted asylum. It passed in the lower house late Thursday evening but could still be rejected in the upper house. The Dutch Red Cross has estimated 23,000 to 58,000 people live in the Netherlands without an official right to residence. Taking tough measures to rein in migration was a policy cornerstone for the four-party coalition led by the Party for Freedom of anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders. The coalition collapsed last month after just 11 months in office, and migration is expected to be a key issue ahead of the snap election Oct. 29. Wilders pulled the plug on the coalition saying it was taking too long to enact moves to rein in migration. His coalition partners rejected the criticism, saying they all backed the crackdown. His party currently holds a narrow lead in opinion polls over a center-left two-party bloc that recently agreed to a formal merger. The opposition Christian Democrats withdrew their support for the legislation put to the vote Thursday over a late amendment that would criminalize people living in the Netherlands without a valid visa or asylum ruling — and would also criminalize people and organizations that help such undocumented migrants. The amendment was introduced by a member of Wilders' party and passed narrowly because a small number of opposition lawmakers were not present for the vote. The vote took place in the final session of parliament before lawmakers broke for the summer. The upper house will consider the legislation after it returns from the recess. If Christian Democrats in the upper chamber reject it, the legislation will be returned to the lower house.
