Geert Wilders' Election Win Sends Shockwaves Through Europe
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Moscow Times
Russian state television anchor praises the victory of Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders in the Netherlands' elections, highlighting his anti-Islam, anti-immigration, and anti-European Union platform that aligns with Russia's interests in its war on Ukraine. Wilders' win is seen as a setback for Ukraine, as he supports ending Dutch military aid to the country. The Kremlin-backed media outlet Sputnik attributes Europe's rightward political shift to sanctions on Russia and an influx of Ukrainian refugees. Wilders' party, the Freedom Party (PVV), won the most seats in the Dutch Parliament, and his connections to Russia have been scrutinized in the past. Dutch-Russian relations have been strained since the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in 2014.