“Either accept the values of Dutch society, or leave our country”
The Dutch prime minister has called on immigrants, especially Muslim immigrants, to either behave normally or leave the Netherlands, in what analysts see as a rightward shift ahead of the Dutch election.
The issue is about the upcoming elections in the country. The elections are scheduled to be held on March 15. Mark Rutte is the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and is a liberal politician with right-wing tendencies. Now, on the eve of the Dutch elections, he is trying to attract the votes of right-wing populists. Therefore, the issue has brought into question the values of Dutch society and put pressure on Muslim immigrants.
Rutte has used two of the country's largest newspapers to publish his views. In a letter "to all Dutch people," he has called on immigrants, especially Muslim immigrants, to either accept the values of Dutch society or leave the country.
Competition with Geert Wilders
The Dutch election is less than two months away. Opinion polls show a lead for Dutch populist leader Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom, a party with radical anti-Muslim and anti-EU policies.
Wilders has repeatedly insulted immigrants and Muslims. In December last year, a court in the Netherlands found him guilty in connection with a case of insulting immigrants. The verdict did not result in any punishment for Wilders or his party. The judge in the court said that the conviction itself amounted to punishment for the politician.
The issue goes back to Wilders' speech in 2014. At that time, Wilders addressed the people in The Hague and asked them whether they wanted more Moroccans to live in their city and in the Netherlands or fewer Moroccans. And the people replied that they wanted fewer Moroccans, and Wilders replied that they would implement this request.
Mark Rutte's statements are precisely intended to attract supporters of the "Party for Freedom" and other right-wing forces in the Netherlands. Statements that will make life more difficult for immigrants, especially Muslim immigrants, in the Netherlands.
Source: DW
