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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">As you may know, the
"European" elections in NL were today. It seems that Wilders' "PVV" is very
succesful with it populist Euro-critic approach.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">While many of us presumably
are Euro-critic as well, think twice before considering cooperation with these
people. They are basically an anti-democratic movement: unlike other
parties in NL, the PVV has no members. It is led by mr. Wilders himself. While
other parties carefully avoid to isolate Wilders, because history has shown that
a "cordon sanitaire" can be counter-productive, Wilders and the eight other
PVV representatives in our (150 seat) parliament don't discuss, but only
make one-way statements, in a very unconstructive manner. They foster the idea
that islam is a threat for our society. The PVV is an excellent propaganda
machine: many people indeed start believing that islam is a threat, and to some
extent, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy: if muslims feel that they are hated,
they may radicalise.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">While populist leaders
often make stupid mistakes, Wilders is very smart. For instance, he fosters the
image of being a friend of Israel. While his views on muslims show a striking
resemblance with the views on jews in nazi Germany, no one can blame him for
being anti-semitist.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">Unlike in interbellum
Germany, imho there are no major "objective" problems in NL, so Wilders has to
develop its own problem. Which is Islam. Other themes are "climate
histeria". And - of course - Europe is a grateful topic.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">Wilders will be prosecuted
in court because he may have violated the limits of freedom of speech. Dutch law
contains a provision that was added in the 1930s specifically against nazi
propaganda. It is compliant with the ECHR because that allows the freedom of
speech to be limited if there is a "pressing need in a democratic
society". Of course, this court case has already been marked as a political
showcase. Unfortunately, NL does not have a constitutional court. Incidentally,
Wilders wants to curtail the freedom of speech of imams.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">The big failure of other
parties in my analysis is their failure to make "noise". Most of the leaders of
the traditional parties are brilliant professors, but lack charisma and, most
importantly, the ability to make NOISE. Wilders has simple statements that
appeal (many) simple people.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face="Comic Sans MS">I think here are many
parallels with germany in the 1920s.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face="Comic Sans MS">reinier</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>