Albert Verlinde, VVD councilor in the municipality of Vught, is open to governing with Geert Wilders. “You cannot keep saying to a party like this for twenty years: you are not participating!”
After the departure of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the VVD seems to be leaving the door ajar for governing with Geert Wilders’ PVV, but then the right has to achieve a majority without the CDA. The new leader of that party, Henri Bontenbal, has ruled out entering into a coalition with the PVV leader.
Old dirt
Johan Derksen thinks that is ridiculous of Bontenbal. “Mr. Bontenbal does that because he thinks that the PVV does not take democracy in the Netherlands seriously and then he cancels a whole group of Dutch people. Like that’s democratic! I think that the whole group should not be thrown out like garbage every election.”
He continues on his talk show Inside today: “In a coalition you always have to add water to the wine and if the PVV has lost its sharp edges in such a coalition meeting, then it is simply a decent party.”
Albert is open
Albert Verlinde thinks his party can get back to work with the PVV. “I thought it was different with Rutte. He had some kind of personal trauma. But now that he’s gone, I also think that as a VVD you have to say… You can’t keep saying to a party that has always won eighteen or twenty seats for twenty years: ‘You’re not participating!’”
He continues: “I mean: everyone is always talking about Pieter Omtzigt, but Geert Wilders is also a very good member of parliament. You can’t always agree with him, but he can debates.”
“Then you knock!”
Wilders’ reaction to Rutte’s departure was also very professional, says Albert. “If you saw how he immediately reacted when Rutte surprised everyone… It was a fantastic speech. First of all show respect and secondly also say: ‘We didn’t agree with each other’, so don’t suck it up either. Then you knock! So in that regard…”
It could just happen, says Albert. “With this campaign, I predict that Geert Wilders will also adopt a very calm attitude towards the VVD. I think so.”
Asylum policy
Perhaps you also need the PVV to solve certain problems, says Albert. “Asylum policy simply becomes the main theme. I’m convinced of that. And I think climate and sustainability too. We are being held hostage by all kinds of measures that we did not ask for and that affect our wallets.”
He concludes: “If I were currently the leader of the PvdA or of Mao, the SP, I would say: ‘Listen, all those rules with sustainability cannot be paid for by the common man!’”