Furious Geert Wilders dubs Netherlands 'Europe's fool' for taking too many refugees

Furious Geert Wilders dubs Netherlands 'Europe's fool' for taking too many refugees

WATCH: Geert Wilders victory speech following Dutch general election

GB NEWS
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 20/02/2024

- 12:08

More than 100,000 refugees have arrived in the Netherlands since Putin invaded Ukraine two years ago


Geert Wilders has dubbed the Netherlands "Europe's fool" for accepting too many Ukrainian refugees.

He claimed that Ukrainian refugees are coming to the EU country for "free housing", not to escape the war.



More than 100,000 refugees have arrived in the Netherlands since Putin invaded Ukraine two years ago.

A temporary EU protection mechanism give Ukrainian refugees a right to travel through, live and work in any EU member state until March 2025 at the earliest.

Geert Wilders


Geert Wilders has dubbed the Netherlands "Europe's fool" for accepting too many Ukrainian refugees

PA

But writing on X, the nationalist politician - who won a landslide victory in the Dutch general election - said: "Ukrainians are coming to the Netherlands in droves, not because of the war but for free housing, free care and our jobs."

He added: "Once again, we are Europe’s fool."

Wilders won the Dutch general election three months ago, but has so fair failed to form a coalition government.

He has campaigned to "give the Netherlands back to the Dutch". He also hit out at what he described as a "migration tsunami".

The European Commission claimed it was not worried about Wilders' election.

It said it was "counting" on the Netherlands, which is a founding member of hte bloc, to continue to "strongly participate" in the EU.

Earlier this month, Wilders was dealt a major blow after talks to form the next Dutch government collapsed.

The Dutch populist was left bemused after New Social Contract leader Pieter Omtzigt quit negotiations. Omtzigt left discussions over disagreements about Dutch finances.

However, it has been reported that the centre-right party could prop up a minority Cabinet.

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Responding to the collapsed talks, Wilders said: “How disappointing. Pieter Omtzigt is throwing in the towel while we were still in talks until today. I don’t understand it at all.”

Wilders looked likely to lead a potential centre-right majority Government made up of four parties, including Mark Rutte’s centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz revealed she was “very surprised” by the collapse in negotiations.

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