Geert Wilders’ populist Freedom Party (PVV) this week helped ensure one of its fiercest international critics got a top European job.

The PVV was so determined to block the appointment of Dutch Labour MP Frans Timmermans - a vociferous opponent of the PVV - as human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe that it inadvertently helped Latvia’s Nils  get the post.

Mr Muiznieks has gone on record fiercely criticising the PVV for being Islamophobic and using racist and xenophobic language.

Peter van Dijk, the PVV’s representative on the Council of Europe, says he was not acquainted with Mr Muiznieks’ position until after the vote had been taken. He was unwilling when interviewed on Dutch television to admit whom he did vote for, but would only say he didn’t vote for Mr Timmermans.

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