Geert Wilders on Course to Be Next Dutch Prime Minister

All is not lost for Europe. The latest encouraging news is that Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders, who is being prosecuted for having the courage to name the obvious truth that Islam is the cause of terrorism, has been rewarded by a massive victory for his political party, the Freedom Party, and now seems headed to become the country's next prime minister.

For my own impression of Mr. Wilders, see here. His story demonstrates how courage, integrity, and persistence—three closely related virtues—can lead to success in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

"Geert Wilders on Course to Be Next Dutch Prime Minister," Bruno Waterfield, Daily Telegraph, March 4

The far-right politician Geert Wilders is poised to become the next Dutch prime minister after making major gains in regional elections.
Municipal results announced on Thursday put his party in first place in Almere, a region near Amsterdam and second in The Hague, one the country's largest cities and the seat of the Dutch government.

If repeated in national elections on June 9, the Freedom Party could win 27 out of 150 seats, becoming the largest single party and putting him in line to become prime minister and form a new government.

Mr. Wilders has called Islam a backward religion, wants a ban on headscarves in public life and has compared the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.

"We are going to conquer the entire country we are going to be the biggest party in the country," he said after the vote. "The leftist elite still believes in multiculturalism, coddling criminals, a European superstate and high taxes. But the rest of the Netherlands thinks differently. That silent majority now has a voice."

The Freedom Party currently has nine of the 150 seats in the Dutch parliament, and five of the country's 25 European parliament seats. But some polls suggest it is now the most popular party in Holland, traditionally seen as a bastion of tolerance.

Mr. Wilders popularity has grown since he was banned from entering Britain last year. He was arrested and deported after being declared a threat to public safety.

The bar has now been lifted and he is due in London on Friday to show his anti-Muslim film, Fitna, in the House of Lords, at the invitation of invitation of Lord Pearson of Rannoch, the UKIP leader and Baroness Cox, a cross bench peer….

Mr. Wilders is facing prosecution in Holland for "inciting hatred" with the controversial film which depicts the Koran burning and focuses on the links between Islam and terrorism.



Robert Tracinski writes daily commentary at TIADaily.com. He is the editor of "The Intellectual Activist (TIA)" and contributor to "The Freedom Fighter's Journal."