The head of the Dutch employers' federation has accused far-right politician Geert Wilders of "seriously" damaging Dutch interests abroad.
Bernard Wientjes, who chairs the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW), said it was outrageous that Mr Wilders recently presented himself in London as the next Dutch prime minister and then derided Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as "a complete fool". Mr Wilders' statement, which was broadcast around the world, caused shock in the British press.
Mr Wientjes, who heads the largest employers' organisation in the Netherlands, says Mr Wilders poses a serious threat to the Netherlands and the Dutch economy. He underlined that three quarters of Dutch GDP comes from revenue earned abroad.
Mr Wientjes stressed that his federation will do business with any Dutch cabinet, including one joined by Mr Wilders' PVV party. But he emphasised that he hoped Mr Wilders party would not be included in the next government following parliamentary elections on 9 June.
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Bernard Wientjes
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Please tell me why Wilders is called a far-right politician. He's not anti-homosexual, he's not anti-semitic,
he's not against Muslims only Islam, he's not an atheist not a fundamentalist religious of any kind, and he's a libertarian, not a far-right ideology. What makes him, according to you, "far-right"?
Dear Mr Wientjes, Wilders wants to save your country, you want to sell it for 30 pieces of silver.
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