In Venlo, Wilders repeats fifteen times that he wants to become prime minister, if necessary of a minority cabinet

Geert Wilders says that the Netherlands needs ‘a prime minister with balls’, and in café De Blauw Trap in Venlo, Friday afternoon, the PVV people have to laugh loudly. Then he will ask questions, as he had done in 2014 at a room full of fans: whether they wanted “more or fewer Moroccans.” He was convicted of that. Now he shouts: “Are you someone with balls?”

The room starts to scream: “Wilders, Wilders.” He goes on: “Would that be Frenske Timmermans?” No, the PVV people call. “Could the pastor be Bontenbal?” No, the PVV’ers shout again. “Do you know someone else?” The room shouts again: “Wilders, Wilders, Wilders.”

He says, “Then you know what to do. And it will happen.”

It is the start of the PVV campaign for the elections of 29 October and the only member of that party immediately makes it clear in Venlo that it is only about one subject for him: asylum. For every camera, against every journalist, Wilders talks about it. He also says that he should not have anything from other political leaders who exclude parties. He is not going to do that, he says. “I want to work with everyone. On one condition: that our asylum agenda is being carried out. And not half baking. But NSC is no longer there, so it is possible.”

Wilders’ message this afternoon is also that he also sees a minority government. In response to questions about parties that exclude him: voters, the PVV knows, can therefore start thinking that a voice on the PVV is useless. And then stay at home in the elections, or vote for another party. Wilders says in Venlo about fifteen times that he prefers to become prime minister of a majority government. “But it is also possible with a minority.”

A woman in a brightly colored dress stands at the exit of the cafe with an envelope, there is a birthday card in Wilders: Saturday he turns 62. She says she is called ‘Els Right’, her name on social media, and organizes a demonstration on the Malieveld, against asylum on 20 September. “Geert must come,” she says. “Otherwise he is the dick. Then I will not vote for him.”

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