Anti-Islam Party Supports First Dutch Minority Cabinet Since World War II
Anti-Islam Party Supports First Dutch Minority Cabinet Since World War II
By Jurjen van de Pol and Maud van Gaal - Jul 31, 2010 3:59 AM
Bloomberg
The Liberal Party and the Christian Democratic Alliance agreed to form a government with the support of the anti-immigrant Freedom Party, creating the Netherlands’ first minority Cabinet since World War II.
The “parties accept each other’s differing opinions” on the characterization of Islam, the parties said in a joint statement. “However, there’s a lot of common ground: making the Netherlands stronger, safer and wealthier is a common goal and starting point.”
The three parties said the Freedom Party will support parts of a government agreement to be negotiated between the Liberal Party, or VVD, and the Christian Democratic Alliance, or CDA, while the latter two take into account wishes of the Freedom Party. The “willingness” of the Freedom Party, or PVV, to support budget cuts will be linked to agreements on issues including immigration, integration and public safety, the parties said.
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“It may work out,” said Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party, which seeks to ban new mosques, curb immigration, cut development aid and reduce European Union influence. “The negotiations are yet to start, but if it does work, that would be great for the Netherlands. I am very happy this offers chances in the Netherlands to make political cooperation happen on the right side,” he told reporters in The Hague.