NETHERLANDS: RIGHT WING POPULIST GEERT WILDERS HANDS OUT FAKE EURO NOTES TO GATHER SUPPORT AGAINST THE EU CONSTITUTION
Record ID:
648500
NETHERLANDS: RIGHT WING POPULIST GEERT WILDERS HANDS OUT FAKE EURO NOTES TO GATHER SUPPORT AGAINST THE EU CONSTITUTION
- Title: NETHERLANDS: RIGHT WING POPULIST GEERT WILDERS HANDS OUT FAKE EURO NOTES TO GATHER SUPPORT AGAINST THE EU CONSTITUTION
- Date: 1st June 2005
- Summary: (W3) LEIDSCHENDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (MAY 31, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. MV DUTCH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT GEERT WILDERS GETTING OUT OF CAR; MV BODYGUARDS AND MEDIA SURROUNDING WILDERS AS HE HANDS OUT COUNTERFEIT EURO NOTES OF ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EURO; MV WILDERS WALKING / FOLLOWED BY BODYGUARDS AND MEDIA 2. (SOUNDBITE)(Dutch) WILDERS SHAKING HANDS TO PASSERS-BY AND GIVING NOTES, SAYING: "We are paying one hundred and eighty Euros, the most of all the countries in Europe and we will get a much smaller say, so, hopefully you will think about that when you vote NEE tomorrow." 0.39 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT GEERT WILDERS, SAYING: "Because we are now as Holland we are paying 180 Euros per capita per year. All other countries pay less, like Britain, like France, like Germany and even more countries are receiving more than they are giving. We are the largest net payer of Europe and I am saying on my bill, which of course is a fake bill, otherwise it would be punishable, but I am saying that Holland is paying the most and losing more influence every day. Because this is happening in Europe with this new system of voting and the council of ministers, we will have less influence and less things to say and we are paying the most. So our government did a very bad deal, very bad negotiations. I wished we would have a Margaret Thatcher in Holland, unfortunately we have a Balkenende and he is not such a good negotiator." 1.31 4. MV CROWD OF JOURNALISTS FOLLOWING WILDERS ON MARKET; MV CHEESE FOR SALE ON THE MARKET/WILDERS MOVING IN THE BACK; MV WILDERS TASTING PIECE OF CHEESE; MV WILDERS WALKING PAST STALL SELLING CHEESE (4 SHOTS) 1.59 5. SCU ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EURO NOTES IN HAND OF CAMPAIGNER/ MEN RECEIVING NOTE AND LOOKING AT IT; MV CAMPAIGNER HANDING OUT NOTES TO WOMEN; MV CHEESE FOR SALE ON MARKET 2.19 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) 67-YEAR-OLD CHEESE SELLER DIJS, SAYING: "In all ways the politics was decided for us, what we should do. They never asked us what we thought and now we can finally say something. Well, that is a pity, it should have happened earlier." 2.36 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) 68-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER HUMMEL, SAYING: "The Euro ended up not working at all, so I don't feel anything for Europe, not yet, maybe it will come one day." 2.45 8. MV VEGETABLE SELLER SHOUTING 'KIWIS FOR A EURO' 2.50 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) 35 YEAR-OLD KLAZIEN, SAYING: "I think I will vote yes, and why, because I think I should give them a chance." 2.58 (W3) AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (MAY 31, 2005) (REUTERS) 10. SCU DUTCH NEWSPAPER HEADLINES SAYING 'LIKELY 'NO' IN THE NETHERLANDS' 3.14 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANALYST MAURICE DE HOND, SAYING: "If really 85 percent of the parliament want to say "yes" and 60 percent of the population will say "no", we don't have a crisis in Europe, we have a crisis in the Netherlands." 3.24 (W3) LEIDEN, THE NETHERLANDS (MAY 31, 2005) (REUTERS) 12. SLV WINDMILL 3.29 (W3) AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (MAY 31, 2005) (REUTERS) 13. SLV BRIDGE OVER AMSTEL RIVER; SLV PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET; SLV HOUSES ON CANAL 3.42 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 16th June 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LEIDSCHENDAM AND AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
- Country: Netherlands
- Reuters ID: LVA4CWFHOYIZV5ZIVULLP1CA2DFC
- Story Text: Right wing populist hands out fake euronotes in The
Netherlands to gather support against the EU constitution.
On the last day (May 31, 2005) before the Dutch head to
the polls to vote on the EU constitution, anti-immigration
maverick Geert Wilders, who lives under heavy guard due to
death threats, took his "No" campaign to the town of
Leidschendam near The Hague.
Wilders handed out mock 180 euro bills to represent the
annual Dutch per capita contribution to the EU budget, the
highest in the bloc. As Wilders handed out the notes, ho
told people the Dutch paid the most, but their say was
being diminished.
"Because we are now as Holland we are paying 180 Euros
per capita per year. All other countries pay less, like
Britain, like France, like Germany and even more countries
are receiving more than they are giving. We are the largest
net payer of Europe," Wilders said.
He also warned people the Netherlands would lose
control over immigration policy under the new treaty.
Wilders found a receptive audience for his message.
"In all ways the politics was decided for us, what we
should do. They never asked us what we thought and now we
can finally say something. Well, that is a pity, it should
have happened earlier," said 67-year-old cheese seller Dijs.
"The Euro ended up not working at all, so I don't feel
anything for Europe, not yet, maybe it will come one day,"
said pensioner Hummel.
The latest Dutch opinion polls all point to a
resounding "No", with opposition to the treaty rising in
most surveys since the French rejected the constitution on
Sunday. One poll shows 65 percent of Dutch voters are
planning to vote "No".
Independent poll analyst Maurice de Hond predicts a
turnout of 50 percent. He also predicts 59 percent of those
will vote "No" and 41 percent "yes". He said the main
reason the Dutch are voting no is because politicians have
lost touch with the people.
"If really 85 percent of the parliament want to say
"yes" and 60 percent of the population will say "no" , we
don't have a crisis in Europe, we have a crisis in the
Netherlands," he said.
Support for the European Union in the Netherlands,
which like France is one of the bloc's six founding
members, was traditionally strong but has taken a knock in
recent years against the backdrop of rising political and
social instability.
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