![\"Dutch](\"https:\/\/c.ndtvimg.com\/2023-11\/cu4qb8c8_geert-wilders_625x300_24_November_23.jpeg\"\/ "\\"Dutch")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew Delhi: <\/b><\/p>\n
Far-right leader Geert Wilders was the surprise victor in the Netherlands elections, after a late surge that catapulted his anti-EU party to a resounding victory over his mainstream rivals. Wilders party, the anti-Islam Party for Freedom, now has 37 seats in the Dutch parliament and is on course to be the largest party in the house. But he is still a long way from his dream of becoming the Prime Minister, for which his party will need to cross the magic number of 76 through a coalition.<\/p>\n
Wilders said his focus would be on curbing immigration. During the campaign, he softened his anti-Islam rhetoric and instead talked about issues such as the cost of living and immigration, which led to analysts describing him as “Geert Milders”.<\/p>\n
The 60-year-old has been a fixture in Dutch politics for decades. He started his career as a member of former Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s liberal group but broke away to serve as an independent lawmaker before setting up the anti-migrant Freedom Party, known as the PVV in Dutch.<\/p>\n
He has been facing death threats because of his anti-Islamic views and has been under tight police protection since 2004. In 2020, a court found him guilty on insult charges for comments he made about Moroccan immigrants, but the judges imposed no penalty.<\/p>\n
In 2022, Wilders had also defended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma over her comments on Prophet Muhammad.<\/p>\n
“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,” he had said in a tweet after Nupur Sharma’s remarks on a TV debate sparked a row.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
The government sought to distance itself from the comments by describing them as “views of fringe elements”. She was also suspended as the BJP spokesperson.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court also noted that Ms Sharma’s remarks “ignited emotions across the country”.<\/p>\n
“The way she has ignited emotions across the country. This lady is single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country. She actually has a loose tongue and has made all kinds of irresponsible statements on TV and set the entire country on fire. Yet, she claims to be a lawyer of 10 years standing… She should have immediately apologised for her comments to the whole country,” the court said in a ruling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n