Days after his victory, Wilders’ triumph shakes the EU. Russia celebrates as Europe probes the implications.
According to a report by the Moscow Times, Russian state television has positively assessed the electoral victory of Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders, viewing it as advantageous for Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. Known for his anti-Islam, anti-immigration, and anti-EU stances, Wilders has previously praised Russian President Putin and advocated for halting Dutch military aid to Ukraine.
Wilders Plans Policy Shift on Ukraine
The Moscow Times further reports that Russian state television presenter Olga Skabeyeva emphasized that Wilders’ rise to power would mean ending support for Ukraine and advocating for immediate negotiations and the expulsion of Ukrainian refugees from the Netherlands. The Netherlands has been a steadfast ally to Ukraine since the onset of Russia’s invasion, particularly in providing F-16 fighter jets in collaboration with Denmark. Skabeyeva underscored that rational thoughts and prudence come from European right-wing extremists, previously labeled as fascists. She also mentioned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who blames European bureaucracy for chaos in the EU. Orban was among the first to congratulate Wilders on his success.
Wilders Refuses Coalition with the Left: Rightward Shift in Europe
The Moscow Times further highlights that Wilders must still form a coalition but has already announced he will not cooperate with the left. He is seen as a potential negative influence on Europe. Kremlin-affiliated media company Sputnik attributes Europe’s political rightward shift to sanctions against Russia and the influx of Ukrainian refugees. Preliminary election results show that Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV) won 37 of the 150 seats in the Dutch parliament, placing him in charge of forming a coalition government. Investigations reveal that PVV members participated in Russia-funded propaganda events. Wilders himself visited Moscow in 2018 and spoke positively of Putin.
PVV to Halt Aid to Ukraine
Despite Criticism of Russia Dutch-Russian relations have been strained since the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The PVV emphasizes it will not send financial or military support to Ukraine, despite criticizing Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine.
Image: Peter van der Sluijs, Geert Wilders, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, (no changes made)