Today the Netherlands is holding general elections. Although the global economic crisis and its effect on the Dutch economy dominate these elections, some parties still promise the voters to also help Africa.

From Africa is a Country

It might come to you as a surprise, but these general elections are the fifth time in ten years time. To some it might seem as the purest example of how a healthy democracy should work; when things get rough, members of a government coalition pull the plug and leave it to the people. To others it proves that the Dutch are spoiled rich people without any real problems.

The Netherlands, a country indeed known for its peace, stability, prosperity and champion of human rights, is beginning to look like one of ‘those politically unstable African countries’. Mind you though that in these countries, dictators, or let’s call them strong leaders, stay in office for decades. A time in which the Netherlands swings between one of the most left-wing governments it ever had (from 2007 to 2010), to the most right-wing ever, which followed right after, and which stayed in office until April this year, a mere 555 days.

And what would the Netherlands, now that it joined the ranks of the so-called ‘Banana Republics’ be without a proper, strong leader? Well, not to worry. If Emile Roemer, leader of the Socialist Party (SP), would become prime minister “Africa would be just fine”. This prediction comes from the notorious politician Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV). In a recent debate on public radio, Wilders called Roemer the “King of Africa”. And a week before that, Wilders thought that “Africa would be happy with someone like Roemer as prime minister of the Netherlands.” If you’re wondering why, according to Wilders, the leader of the Socialist Party deserves the title “King of Africa”… the answer is development aid.

In short, the right-wing PVV wants to stop giving development aid and start breaking down trade barriers. The latter sounds noble. But don’t forget, the PVV is the same party that wants an immigration stop on people from Islamic countries, proposed taxes on Muslim women who wear a hijab, wants to ban the Koran (which has been compared by Wilders to Hitler’s Mein Kampf) and wants the Netherlands to step out of the European Union, in order to regain sovereignty, especially on immigration policy.

Read the full article here.