Amsterdam — EU leaders lined up on Thursday to congratulate Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on beating far-right Geert Wilders in the first of a series of European elections this year in which populist parties are hoping to rock the establishment in the wake of Brexit and Donald Trump’s victory in the US. The centre-right prime minister had trailed in opinion polls for some of the campaign but emerged the clear victor of Wednesday’s election, albeit with fewer seats. Wilders, who campaigned on an anti-immigration platform and wanted to shut mosques and ban the Koran, won a third more seats than at the last election but was thwarted in his bid to become the biggest party. Rutte, whose win helped boost the euro and European shares, called it an "evening in which the Netherlands, after Brexit, after the American elections, said ‘stop’ to the wrong kind of populism". A win for Wilders would have been seen as a boost for French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, running second in opinion po...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.