A member of the provincial government of Limburg has been expelled from the Freedom Party (PVV), after the news leaked out that he had grossly insulted a Labour colleague last July.

In an e-mail, PVV member Cor Bosman apparently called his provincial government colleague, Labour’s Selçuk Özturk, “a bit of sicked-up halal pork made from a Turkish pig”.

The local branch of the PVV, Geert Wilders’ populist anti-Islam party, has now decided to expel Mr Bosman - nearly six months later. A local party statement says it “regrets Mr Bosman’s offensive remarks” and goes on to criticise the way he has responded to the affair.

Mr Bosman sent the offending e-mail to 20 of his PVV party colleagues in July following anti-PVV comments made by the Labour politician. PVV member Harm Uringa found the e-mail so offensive that he later decided to leave the PVV and set up his own party.

Complaints ‘ignored’
Mr Uringa says he complained at the time to PVV leader Geert Wilders. He is reported to have promised to take action, after Mr Uringa threatened to vote for another party in the elections to the Upper House. Such a move could have led to the PVV winning fewer seats in the Upper House.

Mr Uringa also accuses local PVV chairwoman, Laurence Stassen, of failing to do anything about the affair.

Meanwhile, Mr Özturk says he’s “very upset” about the e-mail. “I think the best thing for me to do is to see with my party tomorrow what steps we should take. At the moment, my response would be too emotional.”

(mw/hs)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide