Dutch anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders abandons bid to become prime minister

Who is he and what does he want?

Geert Wilders is a Dutch anti-Islam populist politician who has led the Party for Freedom (PVV) since 2006. He has been a member of the Dutch House of Representatives since 1998 and is the party's only MP. 

Wilders has been described as "the most dangerous politician in Europe" by former British Prime Minister David Cameron. He has been convicted of hate speech and discrimination against Muslims and has been banned from entering the United Kingdom. 

Wilders's political views

Wilders is a vocal critic of Islam and has called for a ban on all Muslim immigration to the Netherlands. He has also proposed a number of other policies that would discriminate against Muslims, such as a ban on the construction of new mosques and a requirement that all Muslim women wear headscarves in public. 

Wilders's views are popular with a significant minority of Dutch voters. In the 2017 general election, the PVV won 20 seats in the Dutch House of Representatives, making it the second-largest party in the country. 

Wilders's bid for prime minister

In the 2021 general election, the PVV won 17 seats in the Dutch House of Representatives. This was a disappointing result for Wilders, who had hoped to win enough seats to become prime minister. 

After the election, Wilders announced that he would not be seeking to become prime minister. He said that he would continue to lead the PVV in opposition and would work to hold the new government accountable. 

Conclusion

Geert Wilders is a controversial figure who has been accused of racism and xenophobia. His views are popular with a significant minority of Dutch voters, but he has failed to win enough support to become prime minister. 

It remains to be seen whether Wilders will be able to maintain his support in the long term. His popularity has declined in recent years, and he faces increasing opposition from other parties in the Dutch political system.