Friday

2nd Jun 2023

Dutch far-right opens new, anti-EU website

  • Elections in the Netherlands are expected to centre around the eurocrisis (Photo: Flickr)

In a replay of events earlier this year when it launched an anti-immigrant website, the Dutch far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) has set up a new protest portal - this time against the EU.

The website decries the high pay of EU officials and MEPs and asks visitors to click on a button if they agree.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

"Eurocrats fill their pockets in a scandalous way," it says.

It also promises to present its findings to EU Council President Herman van Rompuy before a meeting of EU leaders in October.

Its chief, Geert Wilders, on Friday (3 August) tweeted that the site gor over 10,000 clicks in the first few hours after it came online.

Wilders already attracted attention in Brussels when, in February, he launched a website asking visitors to report problems caused by eastern European immigrants.

The European Parliament at the time adopted a resolution denouncing the initiative.

The new website - the third of its kind, after a second one against unruly immigrant youths, or "street terrorists" - comes amid falling support for the PVV a little over a month before elections in the Netherlands.

The party looks set to lose up to a quarter of its 24 seats (in a chamber of 150).

Traditionally anti-Islam, its new anti-EU pitch calls for the Netherlands to quit the EU - a hardening of its earlier eurosceptic line, which called for Brussels to limit itself to a mere economic union.

The launch of the new site can be seen as the start of Dutch electioneering, with campaigns expected to center around the eurozone crisis.

Elections were called after Wilders walked out of talks on EU-demanded budget cuts with the minority government, which he had helped to keep afloat.

"The elections will be about one thing only. The EU: who still believes it?" Wilders tells the viewer in a new video.

Other parties are also expected to capitalise on the rising anti-EU sentiment in the country.

The ruling liberal VVD, led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and the far-left Socialist Party are neck-and-neck in the polls.

Both are traditionally eurosceptic.

Dutch far right opens anti-Polish hotline

The Dutch far-right Freedom Party, a key ally of the centre-right coalition government, on Wednesday opened up a website to collect complaints about people from Central and Eastern Europe residing in The Netherlands.

Dutch set to defy austerity as left takes poll lead

The left-wing Socialist party is expected to seize the largest gains in September's Dutch elections, threatening to deprive German Chancellor Angela Merkel of one of her closest allies in response to the eurozone debt crisis.

Latest News

  1. EU data protection chief launches Frontex investigation
  2. Madrid steps up bid to host EU anti-money laundering hub
  3. How EU leaders should deal with Chinese government repression
  4. MEPs pile on pressure for EU to delay Hungary's presidency
  5. IEA: World 'comfortably' on track for renewables target
  6. Europe's TV union wooing Lavrov for splashy interview
  7. ECB: eurozone home prices could see 'disorderly' fall
  8. Adapting to Southern Europe's 'new normal' — from droughts to floods

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us