NETHERLANDS: Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders optimistic as he casts his ballot in EU elections

Record ID: 695070

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders optimistic as he casts his ballot in EU elections
  • Date: 22nd May 2014
  • Summary: THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (MAY 22, 2014) (REUTERS) DUTCH POLITICIAN AND PARTY FOR FREEDOM (PVV) LEADER, GEERT WILDERS ENTERING POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF WILDERS REGISTERING, ENTERING VOTING BOOTH PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES OF WILDERS IN BOOTH WILDERS CASTING BALLOT, SHAKING HANDS WITH POLLING STATION STAFF WILDERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH POLITICIAN AND PARTY FOR FREEDOM (PVV) LEADER, GEERT WILDERS, SAYING: "Hey, I am very positive. I think that there's a lot at stake. Today we can fight for our national sovereignty, fight against the Europhiles in Brussels in a democratic way. So, yes, certainly, if a lot of people go and vote, I hope we will have good outcome." WILDERS POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS WILDERS LEAVING WILDERS ENTERING CAR
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Netherlands
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACT6I5MWL3QPNH5L4RP91A971N
  • Story Text: Dutch Freedom Party leader (PVV) Geert Wilders on Thursday (May 20) cast his ballot in the The Hague on the first day of voting in the European Parliament elections.
    The 50-year-old member of the Dutch Parliament said he's optimistic about the outcome of the election.
    "Hey, I am very positive. I think that there's a lot at stake. Today we can fight for our national sovereignty, fight against the Europhiles in Brussels in a democratic way. So, yes, certainly, if a lot of people go and vote, I hope we will have good outcome," Wilders said.
    With Europe struggling to recover from the economic crisis, including record-high unemployment and negligible growth, the election is expected to produce a surge in support for Eurosceptic parties on both the far-right and left.
    The Netherlands will release exit polls on Thursday evening, but the official results will only be announced late on Sunday, once voting has finished in all EU member states.
    Polls indicate populist parties across the 28-member bloc could win about 30 percent of the 751 seats in parliament, up from 21 percent in the outgoing parliament, according to Brussels-based think tank Open Europe.
    The bulk of countries will vote on May 25, when the trend towards the political extremes may become clearer, particularly in France, Denmark, Hungary, Italy and Sweden.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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