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Far-Right Dutch Politician Surging Ahead of National Election

HeadlineMar 14, 2017

In the Netherlands, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte sparred with far-right politician Geert Wilders in a debate Monday night ahead of Wednesday’s national elections. Wilders hopes to withdraw the Netherlands from the European Union in a “Nexit” vote similar to Britain’s “Brexit.”

Geert Wilders: “Nexit is the best thing that could happen to us. We’d become, once again, the bosses in our country. Once again, we would get the keys to our own front door. How many people at home would find it unpleasant to not even have the keys to their own homes so they can see which guests they let in and which not?”

The far-right Wilders has called for the “de-Islamization” of the Netherlands and was found guilty by a Dutch court last year of inciting racial discrimination against Moroccans. Nevertheless, he’s running a close second in national polls. Ahead of Monday’s debate, Prime Minister Mark Rutte compared Geert Wilders to Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte: “This is a time to be realistic and not to rely on the polls that tricked us before. Remember the Brexit. We all thought that would never happen. Remember the U.S. elections. So, let’s not make that mistake again. These elections are crucial. Let us stop the domino effect, right here, this week, this Wednesday.”

Wilders hopes to capitalize on rising tensions with Turkey, which on Monday suspended most diplomatic ties with the Netherlands after Dutch authorities barred Turkish ministers from campaigning among expatriates.

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