NETHERLANDS: DUTCH POPULIST MP GEERT WILDERS BOOSTS HIS NO REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UNDER TIGHT SECURITY

Record ID: 647634

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: DUTCH POPULIST MP GEERT WILDERS BOOSTS HIS NO REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UNDER TIGHT SECURITY
  • Date: 18th May 2005
  • Summary: (BN12) BREDA, THE NETHERLANDS (MAY 17, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SCU STICKER, DEPICTING A THUMB-DOWN WITH WORDS: "EU - NO" / ZOOM OUT TO A CITY CENTRE OF BREDA 0.15 2. SLV POLICE OFFERS ON DUTY 0.20 3. MV POLICEMAN ON A MOTORBIKE WITH GEERT WILDERS' LOGLINE IN THE BACKGROUND, SAYING: "THE NETHERLANDS MUST STAY" 0.23 4. SLV POLICE BIKERS AND THE BATTLE WALKING 0.28 5. MV MP GEERT WILDERS TALKING WITH A PASSER-BY, DISTRIBUTING HIS LEAFLETS 0.41 6. MV WILDERS WALKING THE STREET JOINED BY HIS BODYGUARDS 0.48 7. (SOUNDBITE)(English), GEERT WILDERS, MP, SAYING: "The slogan means that Netherlands should stay. Of course, I am not saying that if (the) constitution was accepted, Holland would disappear, but it's another step on the way to European superstate, with a lot of power and a lot of bureaucrats. If we want to stay independent on the most important issues like immigration, we should reject this constitution. Holland should stay with all its powers that we need." 1.22 8. CLOSE-UP OF WILDERS' HANDS, HOLDING LEAFLETS 1.27 9. (SOUNDBITE)(English), GEERT WILDERS, MP, SAYING: "Turkey is certainly related. Anybody who is saying that Turkey has nothing to do with constitution, it is not true, for the reason that we have a new decision-making process in this constitution, where countries with a lot of inhabitants have a larger say. If you say NO to the constitution, you cannot stop Turkey joining EU, but you can stop Turkey, if it would join, to have too much say in decision-making process. As for the issue of Euro, a lot of people are upset and concerned that they haven't been told the whole truth about what happened at that time. So, it's very much justified to tell the people: this is the time you can vote - if you trusted people who brought you the Euro, vote yes. If you trust Netherlands more that bureaucrats in Strasbourg and Brussels, you have to say NO!" 2.22 10. SCU/MV FLOWER AND THE WILDERS' LEAFLET IN CHILD'S HAND 2.26 11. (SOUNDBITE)(English), MAURICE DE HOND, INDEPENDENT POLL ANALYST, SAYING: "The interesting point is that a big part of the left wing voters have the intention to vote NO, but they are very against Wilders, so they will maybe decide to reconsider their vote and vote Yes, instead, as they don't want to to be in the same camp like Wilders. So Geert Wilders is the last chance for the government of the Netherlands to get it right" 3.06 12. MV GEERT WILDERS ENTERS HIS BATTLE-BUS; SLV BATTLE BUS LEAVES BREDA 3.24 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd June 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BREDA, THE NETHERLANDS
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Reuters ID: LVAF2Y7JIX7AEZTVA3723IMS2MLE
  • Story Text: Dutch populist boosts his No referendum campaign
    under tight security
    Dutch populist MP Geert Wilders urged voters on
    Tuesday (May 17, 2005) to reject the new European constitution or
    risk handing control over immigration policy to a European
    superstate potentially dominated by Turkey.

    Wilders, who has been living in a maximum-security jail
    since the November murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh to
    protect him from attack due to his criticism of Islam, is
    touring the Netherlands ahead of a June 1 referendum on the
    treaty.

    Circled by four bodyguards, one carrying a bullet-proof
    shield, the member of parliament who is the most prominent Dutch "No"
    campaigner handed out leaflets against the
    constitution in a busy shopping street in the central town
    of Breda.

    "It's another step on the way to a European superstate
    with a lot of powers, a lot of bureaucrats. If we want to
    stay independent on the most important issues like
    immigration, we should reject this constitution," Wilders
    told Reuters.

    Immigration and integration of foreigners, particularly
    the growing Muslim population, have been hot topics in the
    Netherlands since the murder of maverick politician Pim
    Fortuyn in 2002 and that of Van Gogh by a suspected
    Islamist last year.

    Latest polls suggest the Netherlands is likely to
    reject the constitution on June 1, three days after France
    also votes on the treaty, with surveys showing Dutch voters
    worried about a loss of sovereignty and Turkey's bid to
    join the bloc.

    Wilders said the new treaty might mean that other
    European Union member states will try to impose upon the
    Netherlands policies like Spain's recent amnesty for
    illegal immigrants.

    Wilders, who was forced out of the liberal VVD party
    last year for opposing Turkey's bid to join the European
    Union, added that if Turkey eventually becomes a member, it
    could well have the biggest population in the bloc and
    therefore the most votes.

    "The larger countries will have an enormous say
    compared to relatively small countries like the
    Netherlands," he said.

    "If you trust the people who brought you the euro, vote
    'Yes', if you trust the Netherlands more than the
    bureaucrats in Strasbourg and Brussels, you have to say
    'No'."
    Supporters of the treaty trailed behind Wilders handing
    out leaflets refuting his arguments and carrying a banner
    urging people to vote "Yes", but they seemed to be having
    less success.

    "A big part of the left-wing voters in the Netherlands
    intend to vote 'No' in the referendum. But they are very
    against Geert Wilders," he said. "Geert Wilders is the last
    chance for the government of the Netherlands to get it
    right."
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