U-turn by Geert Wilders: The right-wing populist is withdrawing controversial legislative proposals against Islam and Muslims, including a ban on mosques and the Koran. A strategic move?
Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders has withdrawn three controversial legislative proposals against Islam and Muslims. He informed the parliamentary executive committee of this in writing without giving any further reasons. The proposals included a ban on mosques and the Koran as well as a drastic restriction on the basic rights of Muslims.
The move is seen as a gesture to his possible coalition partners. On Tuesday, Wilder’s Party for Freedom (PVV) will resume talks with three other right-wing parties about the possible formation of a government. Among other things, it should be about whether the rule of law and the constitution remain untouched by the Wilders party. The right wing surprisingly won the parliamentary elections in October. He had already announced that he would put controversial projects on hold.
The PVV had submitted the three laws well before the election. According to one proposal, possession of a Koran should be punished with up to five years in prison. A second draft law was intended to restrict the basic rights of people with multiple nationalities. For example, they should be deprived of their right to vote. In the third project, Wilders wanted to make it possible for people to be detained without a court order if they were suspected of terrorism.
There was no majority in parliament for any of these proposals. The highest court in the Netherlands classified them as violations of the rule of law.
Source: Stern
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