Dutch Politician, Who Defended BJP Leader Nupur Sharma Amid Attacks From Islamists, Sweeps Netherlands Elections; Likely To Be New PM

In a significant development, a Dutch politician who came out in support of Nupur Sharma last year is headed for a massive parliamentary election victory and is likely to be the new Prime Minister of Netherlands.

According to the exit polls, Geert Wilders was headed for a massive parliamentary election victory Wednesday in one of the biggest political upsets in Dutch politics since World War II, news agency AP reported.

The result puts him in line to lead talks to form a new ruling coalition and possibly become the country’s first anti-Islamist Prime Minister at a time of political upheaval through much of the continent.

The exit poll published by national broadcaster NOS said that Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV) won 35 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament, more than double the 17 he won at the last election.

However, Wilders' path to becoming the Prime Minister won't be an easy one as the heads of the three major Dutch parties have expressed unwillingness to join a PVV-led cabinet.

Wilders’ election program includes calls for a referendum on the Netherlands leaving the European Union, a total halt to accepting asylum-seekers and migrant pushbacks at Dutch borders.

It also advocates the “de-Islamization” of the Netherlands.

Notably, PVV has called for a ban on mosques, the Quran and Islamic headscarves or Hijab in government buildings.

Geert Wilders is a Right Wing Dutch politician who is known for his anti-Islam stand. Wilders, who has been under police protection since 2004, has been surrounded by controversies for his statements.

Born on 6th September 1963 in Venlo, Netherlands, he served as a member of the Dutch House of Representatives from 1998 and as a leader of the PVV from 2006.

Wilders was born into a middle-class family. He lived in Israel from 1981 to 1983 and travelled across the Middle East. During that period, he started to form anti-Islamist views that became the basis of his political career.

In October 2022, Wilders came out in support of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma after Islamists hounded her for alleged blasphemous remarks during a debate on Times Now.

"Nupur Sharma is a hero who spoke nothing but the truth. The whole world should be proud of her. She deserves the Nobel Prize. And India is a Hindu nation, the Indian government is obliged to strongly defend Hindus against Islamic hate and violence," Wilders said in a post on X.