Europe: Wilders building up ally network
Geert Wilders has more and more of an international audience for his call to politicians to join hands cross-borders. The head of the Party for Freedom (PVV) works in his fight against Islam together with American, British, Italian and Danish political parties, among others.
Parliament member Morten Messerschmidt of the Danish People's Party, representing 14% of Danish voters, speaks of 'fruitful collaboration' between the PVV leader and his party leader, Pia Kjærsgaard. According to Messerschmidt, who is also a candidate for the European Parliament in the July elections, it is important for all parties "to show that you're not alone in your fear of the Islamization of society," regardless of where they come from.
The international cooperation with like-minded people can, according to Wilders, mean having parties bring the same proposals in various parliaments at the same time. It's the first time that anti-immigration parties from various countries openly speak in favor of alliances.
Messerschmidt: "Historically speaking we were justly somewhat kept our distance from cooperation. But more and more we feel that we must unite in the fight against fundamentalist Islam. Certainly because existing parties have a strong tendency to isolate parties like ours and portray us as loners."
In an interview with De Pers Wilders recently said that he will thus protest in the European Parliament. "Let the Islamic world see: not everybody goes on their knees. And Europe: we're fighting for it, we're not a bunch of fools in any country."
The PVV head emphasizes that his international aspiration will reach further than Europe. "It would be nice if you could also get support from politicians from the United States. That would be almost historic."
Showing the worlds that he's not alone is one of the topmost motives for Geert Wilders to seek international supporters. According to the PVV head his party is unjustly portrayed as loners, as crying in the wilderness. Since the appearance of his movie Fitna on March 27, 2008, he says that every week he gets more allies from within and outside Europe. "Fitna is very instrumental for that."
The PVV head, who announced the Fitna World Tour on December 7, tapped worldwide contacts with it. His anti-Koran movie was shown in Israel, the UK, the US, France and Belgium. "In February Fitna will be shown in the Italian parliament by invitation of Lega Nord," Wilders says.
Lega Nord of Umberto Bossi is one of the parties which now make up the Union for Europe of the Nations (UEN). This group in the European Parliament is composed of conservative, nationalist and populist parties who think that traditions, identity and authority should be preserved within the country's borders.
Since 2004 the EUN is represented in six countries: Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Danish parliament member Messerschmidt calls all the parties which belong to the EUN "allies".
Wilders emphasizes that he wants more than cooperation within Europe. He also has contacts with the hardcore conservative Sue Myrick, a Republican member of Congress.
In mid-January the PVV will officially announce whether they will take part in the Europa Parliament elections in June 2009. But since Wilders himself says that since September 2008 he meets with candidate European Parliamentarians on Saturdays, it would be very strange if his party doesn't take part in the European elections.
Source: De Pers (Dutch)
Geert Wilders has more and more of an international audience for his call to politicians to join hands cross-borders. The head of the Party for Freedom (PVV) works in his fight against Islam together with American, British, Italian and Danish political parties, among others.
Parliament member Morten Messerschmidt of the Danish People's Party, representing 14% of Danish voters, speaks of 'fruitful collaboration' between the PVV leader and his party leader, Pia Kjærsgaard. According to Messerschmidt, who is also a candidate for the European Parliament in the July elections, it is important for all parties "to show that you're not alone in your fear of the Islamization of society," regardless of where they come from.
The international cooperation with like-minded people can, according to Wilders, mean having parties bring the same proposals in various parliaments at the same time. It's the first time that anti-immigration parties from various countries openly speak in favor of alliances.
Messerschmidt: "Historically speaking we were justly somewhat kept our distance from cooperation. But more and more we feel that we must unite in the fight against fundamentalist Islam. Certainly because existing parties have a strong tendency to isolate parties like ours and portray us as loners."
In an interview with De Pers Wilders recently said that he will thus protest in the European Parliament. "Let the Islamic world see: not everybody goes on their knees. And Europe: we're fighting for it, we're not a bunch of fools in any country."
The PVV head emphasizes that his international aspiration will reach further than Europe. "It would be nice if you could also get support from politicians from the United States. That would be almost historic."
Showing the worlds that he's not alone is one of the topmost motives for Geert Wilders to seek international supporters. According to the PVV head his party is unjustly portrayed as loners, as crying in the wilderness. Since the appearance of his movie Fitna on March 27, 2008, he says that every week he gets more allies from within and outside Europe. "Fitna is very instrumental for that."
The PVV head, who announced the Fitna World Tour on December 7, tapped worldwide contacts with it. His anti-Koran movie was shown in Israel, the UK, the US, France and Belgium. "In February Fitna will be shown in the Italian parliament by invitation of Lega Nord," Wilders says.
Lega Nord of Umberto Bossi is one of the parties which now make up the Union for Europe of the Nations (UEN). This group in the European Parliament is composed of conservative, nationalist and populist parties who think that traditions, identity and authority should be preserved within the country's borders.
Since 2004 the EUN is represented in six countries: Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Danish parliament member Messerschmidt calls all the parties which belong to the EUN "allies".
Wilders emphasizes that he wants more than cooperation within Europe. He also has contacts with the hardcore conservative Sue Myrick, a Republican member of Congress.
In mid-January the PVV will officially announce whether they will take part in the Europa Parliament elections in June 2009. But since Wilders himself says that since September 2008 he meets with candidate European Parliamentarians on Saturdays, it would be very strange if his party doesn't take part in the European elections.
Source: De Pers (Dutch)
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