THE HAGUE,
Netherlands – Events in the usually
peaceful European country of the Netherlands are getting a lot of attention
these days.
Riots in
Rotterdam recently were sparked by the Dutch government’s blocking of Turkish
officials entering Holland to rally expat voters for an upcoming Turkish
referendum. Officials here say they did it in the name of security.
Turkish
President Erdogan blasted the action. He branded the Dutch “Nazi remnants.” He
slapped them with diplomatic sanctions and threatened more.
Dutch Prime
Minister Mark Rutte, campaigning in The Hague before Wednesday’s parliamentary
vote, defended his actions to Fox News.
“This depends
on Turkey,” he said. “We didn’t seek this fight.”
Some say his
bold actions are a response to the tougher talk from the far-right anti-Muslim
populist politician Geert Wilders.
Positions ranging from closing mosques to blocking Muslim immigrants to
the Netherlands leaving the European Union have touched a chord with the Dutch
public. Some polls had showed his Freedom party taking a lead in the upcoming
vote, making officials here nervous.
“I am
absolutely convinced for the Netherlands and for the people,” Rutte told Fox
News, “Geert Wilders doesn’t solve the problems.”
His standing
has slipped recently. And with other parties refusing to go into coalition with
him, he probably won't govern. But he is being felt.
“He has an
impact without being in government,” Dutch political reporter Laurens Bowen
said. “Because he influences other parties on immigration, on border control,
and on refugees.”
The populist
message of the man some call the “Dutch Donald Trump” can also be heard in the
campaigns of upcoming elections across Europe. Some say it has already been
heard…across the pond.
Greg
Palkot currently serves as a London-based senior foreign affairs correspondent
for Fox News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in 1998 as a correspondent.
Follow him on Twitter@GregPalkot.
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