Geert Wilders, anti-Islam and far-right populist known for his anti-Moroccan rhetoric during prior campaigns, won the Dutch general election with a landslide, raising concerns about the impact on Dutch-Moroccan relations.
The controversial political leader previously sparked outrage when he referred to Dutch Moroccans as “scum” in 2018.
“The Moroccan scum in Holland … once again not all are scum … but there is a lot of Moroccan scum in Holland who makes the streets unsafe, mostly young people … and that should change,” as reported by the Guardian.
In 2014, the far-right leader was convicted guilty of promoting discrimination and inciting racial hatred against Dutch Moroccans, as he had promised to keep “fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands”. More than 6,400 complaints were subsequently received by the Dutch public prosecutor, according to BBC.
The number of Moroccan nationals residing in the Netherlands as of 2022, according to Statista, reached 419,300, an increase compared to previous years.
With the Dutch election completed, the process of forming a new government is set to begin. Coalition formation is expected to be hard. To secure a majority and appoint a prime minister, the populist party requires the support of at least two other parties.
Wilders holds controversial views on various issues, including providing arms to Ukraine, and leaving the EU, views that none of the potential coalition parties share.
Analysts emphasized the importance of distinguishing between electoral campaign promises and actual political outcomes, particularly when these parties come to power.
“It’s really hard to translate these promises into political decisions because we have to take into account the relationships between countries,” said Mohammed Chakir, a Political Analyst to Hespress EN.
Lahcen Aqartit, an expert in International Relations, also suggested that electoral campaign slogans used by the far-right across Europe are merely tactics driven by propaganda, defamation, and incitement.
“Ultimately, national interests play a significant role in shaping relationships between countries,” commented Aqartit on the potential impact of the far-right win on Dutch-Moroccan relations.
The expert in International Relations gave the example of the far-right’s election in Italy. He told Hespress EN, “they were compelled to abandon the slogans that were prevalent in their election campaigns and adapt their political approach to consider the interests of the European state.”
Aqartit believes that the same thing would occur following the election Dutch far-right leader.
In 2022, the Dutch government acknowledged the autonomy plan put forward by the Kingdom of Morocco in 2007 as a serious and credible initiative. They also underlined their support for the United Nations’ efforts to attain a fair, enduring, and mutually agreeable resolution, according to Reuters.
“Considering the Netherlands’ strong economic ties with Morocco and alignment with major European countries on the Moroccan Sahara file, it is unlikely that there will be a substantial impact on the Dutch position regarding this,” believes the expert in International Relations.
“The far-right government is expected to prioritize a pragmatic and realistic approach in their dealings with the Kingdom of Morocco,” concluded Aqartit.
After Mark Rutt’s reign as the country’s longest-serving leader ends, the Netherlands will have its first new prime minister in 13 years.
Wilders promised to hold a referendum on the Netherlands’ withdrawal from the European Union, despite being a founding member, tighten immigration policies by halting the acceptance of asylum seekers, and work on the de-Islamization of the Netherlands.
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