Ban on mosques scrapped by Dutch election winner Wilders

Far-right Dutch election winner Geert Wilders announced on Monday that he is withdrawing legislation that he proposed in 2018 that calls for a ban on mosques and the Quran in a key concession to potential coalition partners.

The anti-Islam politician’s move came a day before talks to form the next government were set to resume following the November election.

Mr Wilders is keen to co-opt into a coalition with three more mainstream parties along with his Party for Freedom (PVV) and the abandonment of the bill could be critical in gaining their trust and support.

One of those parties’ leaders, Pieter Omtzigt of the reformist New Social Contract, has expressed fears that some of Mr Wilders’s policies breach the Dutch Constitution that enshrines liberties, including the freedom of religion.

During a parliamentary debate last year after the PVV won 37 seats in the 150-seat lower house of the Dutch parliament in the November 22 general election, Mr Wilders flagged a softening of his party’s strident anti-Islam stance.

“Sometimes I will have to withdraw proposals and I will do that,” Mr Wilders said in the debate.

“I will show the Netherlands, the legislature, Mr Omtzigt’s party – anybody who wants to hear it – that we will adapt our rules to the constitution and bring our proposals in line with it.”

Mr Wilders was due to resume coalition talks yesterday with Mr Omtzigt, and the leaders of two other parties – the centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the Farmer Citizen Movement led by Caroline van der Plas.

Among three pieces of legislation axed by Wilders Party for Freedom was one dating back to 2018 proposing to ban “Islamic expressions”.

The text of the bill proposed bans on mosques, the Quran, Islamic schools and the wearing of burqas or hijabs.

Mr Wilders did not immediately comment further on the decision to withdraw the legislation, which was announced by his party.