Radical right-wing parties from across Europe have welcomed the success of Geert Wilders’s Freedom Party in the Dutch general election. With elections in Belgium next year the Dutch poll also attracted considerable interest in Belgium.
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Geert Wilders’s Freedom Party and Vlaams Belang “tapping into mood across Western Europe” says Van Grieken (VIDEO)
Colin Clapson
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The Flemish far right of Vlaams Belang entertains close contacts with the Freedom Party and Geert Wilders has been invited to Flanders several times. The Dutchman’s victory has the Flemish far right dreaming of a similar breakthrough here next year. Tom Van Grieken is the Vlaams Belang leader: “It’s good to dream, but let’s keep our feet on the ground. We’ve seen how a campaign made the difference. It will happen here too. There are still seven months to go, but you can see how parties like the Freedom Party and Vlaams Belang tap into the mood in western Europe. The wind is blowing our way. It’s nice”.
Confronted with Geert Wilders’s statement that when he becomes premier, he will add Flanders, Mr Van Grieken said the matter would need to be discussed: "We are good friends and the participation in government of a nationalist party so close to home looks interesting. We will keep a close eye on what happens in the Netherlands in coming days".
Our video includes archive images of Mr Wilders's visit to Antwerp to support the Vlaams Belang.