On the eve of Thanksgiving in North America, there was a sensational political storm in Europe. The Dutch Freedom Party won the parliamentary elections on November 22 local time, and the party, led by far-right politician Geert Wilders, unexpectedly won. This result came as a big surprise to many, as the Netherlands has long been regarded as a bastion of European liberalism. The Netherlands was one of the founding members of the European Union and has also contributed significantly to the process of European integration. As such, the election result is considered a major turning point in the political history of the Netherlands, with far-reaching implications for the future direction of the European Union.
Since its inception in 2006, the Dutch Freedom Party, led by Geert Wilders, has been notable for its far-right stance and hardline attitude towards immigration and the European Union. They stressed that "the Netherlands should be governed by the Dutch", advocated stricter social assimilation measures for immigrants, and advocated a referendum on whether the Netherlands should remain in the European Union. These positions and statements quickly attracted the attention of many Dutch voters, and the Liberal Party rose to prominence.
However, past election results have not been as expected by the Liberals. Despite ranking high in the polls, in the 2017 election, the Liberal Party won only 16 seats, placing it in fourth place. The results of this election were a big surprise, as the Freedom Party managed to win 35 seats, becoming the largest party in the Dutch House of Representatives.
Europe's far-right is not only on the rise in the Netherlands, but has also seen a similar situation in many EU member states over the past few years. There are many reasons behind this phenomenon. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the living standards of many middle- and lower-class people in Europe declined, and the decline of the middle class led to a gradual rise in discontent with elites and foreign populations. This sentiment has led to the rapid spread of right-wing populism, with opposition to globalization, the European Union, and an emphasis on local culture and interests becoming a common voice.
The victory of the Dutch Freedom Party is not only an election result, but also a powerful warning to traditional political forces. The rise of right-wing populism is not confined to Europe, but even to the transatlantic Americas. Javier Milley in Argentina and Trump in the United States are examples of the global rise of right-wing forces, which has also stimulated the growing right-wing forces in Europe to a certain extent.