“Who is it, mom? – I don’t know, sweetheart. It’s probably for the elections. » If he were not surrounded by a swarm of activists in electric green windbreakers and a dozen cameras, Henri Bontenbal, 42 years old, baby-faced, smooth appearance of an insurance agent from Rotterdam, would go unnoticed on the Binnenrotte market. A stone’s throw from the cubic houses, the flagship attraction of the second city of the Netherlands, the leader of the Christian Democrats (CDA) progresses at a good pace between the stalls. At the start of autumn, passers-by seem more interested in the return of oliebollenraisin donuts sprinkled with icing sugar, and Kruidnotendry biscuits with cinnamon and nutmeg, devoured on the occasion of Saint Nicholas.
Journalists are struggling to find clients to shoot their sequences. “For candidates, the campaign begins three months before the election. For us, three weeks before. And for voters, this is counted in days”slips a reporter from the public channel NOS to justify calm. “It’s because here, it’s mostly normal people, people who vote for Geert Wilders”says Steven van Die, in 39th position on the party list. “PVV! PVV! »shouts, echoing, a merchant as the group passes in front of his fruit and vegetable stand. The young man will give his vote to the Party for Freedom, the movement of the populist tribune at the top of the polls, having been able to tackle the subject of immigration, neglected for too long by the traditional parties.
Since the start of the year, around fifty demonstrations against reception centers for asylum seekers have taken place across the country. On October 4, very close to Rotterdam, Mark Verspeek gathered several hundred people in Schiedam to oppose the installation of such a structure on ‘s-Gravenlandseweg, an industrial zone on the outskirts of the city center. “Our municipality has enough problems between insecurity, the poverty rate, illiteracy and juvenile crimehe is indignant. We must first help our residents before taking care of migrants. »
As in France, the fifth European economy is caught between three irreconcilable forces: the nationalist right of Wilders, the centrists, split into several groups, and the alliance between labor and environmentalists
A speech that Geert Wilders hammers out at the cost of his security and which was the stumbling block, this summer, of the coalition formed between his formation, the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD, center right), the New Social Contract (NSC, right) and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB, right). Without the support of the PVV, the executive, led since July 2024 by the independent Dick Schoof, had to call early legislative elections in the hope of regaining a majority.
As in France, Europe’s fifth largest economy is caught between three irreconcilable forces: Wilders’ nationalist right, the centrists, split into several groups, and the alliance between Labor and environmentalists. Neck and neck in voting intentions with this sort of NFP, Henri Bontenbal, who excludes collaborating again with the PVV, wants to believe that the Dutch will choose to “stability” and ” compromise “particularly on immigration, rather than that of “diversion and chaos”. If he becomes Prime Minister of the Netherlands, he promises that “politics will become boring again”.
Distribution of Qurans
Issa, a dashing thirty-year-old with a shaggy beard, djellaba on his shoulders and construction shoes on his feet, gives Korans in front of the impressive Markthal arch and its monumental fresco. This pious Muslim is not convinced. “Our leaders are all corrupthe blurted. But Allah gave us knowledge, we still have to vote. » For whom then? Eyes turned to the sky, the young man from Suriname passes his hand over his face and thinks as if he were in deep meditation. For Denk, perhaps: a Turkish party accused by its detractors of defending the interests of Ankara, well established in the port city where a large Muslim community lives.
The “at the same time” of the centrists may frustrate a large part of our neighbors, the extravagances of the “Dutch Trump” on Islam and foreigners scare more than one. In the historic district of Delfshaven, spared by the Luftwaffe bombing in 1940, more measured candidates are preferred. “He exaggeratesestimates Hanyo, seated on the terrace of the De Ooievaar café. The atmosphere is good here, it mixes well. » At the end of the street, however, on the Visserijplein market, traditional pieces of gouda and smoked sausages are rare. Amidst oriental spices and Islamic veils, only the red brick facades, the smells of herring and the icy northern wind bring us back to the Randstad. “We must tackle immigrationconfesses the boss after Hanyo’s departure. Too many people are taking advantage of aid while we are being hit with taxes. » Tracked by his old sheepdog, he is angry with Wilders who, according to him, “doing too much”. And to conclude: ” It’s a shame. I don’t even know if I’m going to vote. » Like 96% of Dutch people, according to a survey published at the end of August, Peter no longer has any confidence in politics. Enough to not recognize the candidates on the market at first glance.
