Geert Wilders criticizes Islam as PVV joins Dutch coalition government

A few days before his party becomes part of a coalition government for the first time in the Netherlands, far-right PVV leader Geert Wilders criticized Islam on social media.

On his X account, the politician wrote on Wednesday that Islam is «a disgusting, reprehensible, violent, and hateful religion».

Wilders claimed his conclusion comes after «20 years of security, safe houses, 5 fatwas, thousands of death threats, and visiting many Islamic countries». He justified his statement by saying, «Islam is a religion. And criticism of religion is allowed».

Wilders' inflammatory statement comes as his anti-Islam, anti-immigration party is set to participate in a coalition government in the Netherlands, marking the first right-wing coalition in the country.

This development follows Wilders' party winning a quarter of the parliamentary seats, securing a spot in a four-party coalition that includes the centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the New Social Contract party (NSC), and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB).

Despite his party leading the coalition, the 60-year-old politician stated he will not become the next Dutch prime minister due to a political arrangement. «The good news is that we have a negotiator's agreement, but of course, this is only definitive when the parliamentary parties have also agreed», he told Dutch media in May.

Wilders is notorious for his anti-Islam and anti-immigration rhetoric. Among the Moroccan-Dutch community, he is known for his infamous «fewer Moroccans» statement. In 2014, Wilders told a crowd that «The Hague should be a city with fewer problems, if possible, fewer Moroccans».