Anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders has announced he will take up a seat on the local council of the city of The Hague.
In the 3 March local election, Mr Wilders, who was on his party's list of candidates in a symbolic twentieth position, got 13,636 preferential votes. This entitles him to a seat on the council, instead of a fellow party member who was higher on the list.
Mr Wilders' Freedom Party got eight seats on the 45-member council, making it the second largest in the city after Labour.
The Freedom party leader said "he will try for a while" to function as a council member in The Hague, restricting himself to a modest portfolio, while continuing to serve as an MP. The Hague's town hall is a mere five minutes' walk from parliament.
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Geert Wilders
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.