Summary of the day
Gom van Strien, who had been designated at the Dutch “scout” for post-election talks, was scheduled to meet with party leaders today, but resigned in the morning due to fraud allegations which surfaced over the weekend and which he has denied.
As a result of the morning’s events, Dutch far right leader Geert Wilders now intends to nominate a former Labour minister, Ronald Plasterk, as the new scout, according to local media reports. The nomination could take place tomorrow.
Wilders repeated that he wants to become prime minister and called for other parties to come to the table.
Polish president Andrzej Duda swore in a new government under the leadership of conservative Law and Justice’s Mateusz Morawiecki, even though it almost certainly lacks sufficient support and is expected to only last two weeks.
The prime ministers of Sweden and Finland met amid growing concerns about the arrival of people via Russia at Finland’s border. Petteri Orpo, the Finnish prime minister, said intelligence shows there are still people on the move and “if this continues, more measures will be announced in the near future”.
Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg told reporters that “we face the most dangerous world in decades” and that ministers gathering in Brussels later this week will discuss support for Ukraine, the situation in the western Balkans, relationship with China and other security issues.
Irish police are expected to make sweeping arrests of suspected ringleaders of Thursday’s riot in Dublin and to obtain wider rights to use facial recognition technology to help identify suspects in any future disorder.
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Polish president swears in government expected to fall within two weeks
In a controversial move, Polish president Andrzej Duda is swearing in a new conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government, under the leadership of Mateusz Morawiecki – even though such a government would almost certainly not get sufficient support in the Sejm and fall within two weeks.
The opposition won enough votes in last month’s election to form a government, but Duda has insisted on giving a first chance to Law and Justice.
#NaŻywo | Uroczystość powołania Prezesa Rady Ministrów oraz Rady Ministrów. (Sygnał udostępniony przez TVP INFO) https://t.co/ldgCT1afLc
— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) November 27, 2023
Wilders wants former minister as new 'scout': reports
Far right leader Geert Wilders wants to nominate Ronald Plasterk, a former minister of the interior and minister of education representing the Labour party, as the new scout for post-election talks, NOS reports.
NOS cited sources as saying the nomination would happen tomorrow.
NRC also reported Plasterk is expected to take on the role.
The first scout, Gom van Strien, resigned today after allegations of fraud surfaced over the weekend, which he denies.
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'Useful meeting', Orbán says amid fears of Hungarian summit veto
the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, said he had a “useful meeting” with European Council president, Charles Michel, today in Budapest.
Michel was visiting at a time when European leaders fear Orbán could derail plans to sign off on a revised EU budget and give Ukraine a green light for opening accession talks with the bloc. The issues will be on the agenda when EU leaders meet for a summit in Brussels next month.
Orbán recently sent Michel a letter outlining his concerns.
Had a useful meeting today with @eucopresident Charles Michel in Budapest. pic.twitter.com/WxVgdpEYnd
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) November 27, 2023
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Finland could take more measures if people keep arriving via Russia, prime minister says
Petteri Orpo, Finland’s prime minister, said at a press conference alongside Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson that Finland protects the eastern border of the EU and Nato, Yle reported.
Helsinki has repeatedly accused Moscow of helping people arrive at its border.
“Intelligence information from different sources tells us that there still are people on the move... If this continues, more measures will be announced in the near future,” Orpo said, Reuters reported.
Kristersson expressed Sweden’s strong support for the Finnish border measures.
Here are photos from a border crossing in northern Finland today, as tensions deepen.
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Swedish PM pushes back against far-right leader's comment on mosques
The Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, has spoken out against Islamophobic comments made by Jimmie Åkesson, the leader of the far-right Sweden Democrats.
Over the weekend, Åkesson, whose party provides vital support to Kristersson’s Moderate-run minority coalition, called for a stop to new mosques being built in the Nordic country and for some to be demolished.
Kristersson called for his coalition partner to “come to your senses”.
He said:
It gives an incorrect image of what Sweden stands for internationally, and forced the ministry of foreign affairs to correct the image of what Sweden is. I think you should come to your senses, and think that it is a dangerous time we are living in right now.
Åkesson has caused outrage with his comments. Magdalena Andersson, a former Swedish prime minister and leader of the Social Democrats, Sweden’s largest party, called for Sweden Democrats to be fired from government office.
But Åkesson has since doubled down, claiming that the presence of mosques makes living in Sweden feel like “living in the Middle East”.
He told SVT: “You also have the right to avoid religion, and it’s difficult when you have calls to prayer in the city.”
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Here are some photos from around Europe today.
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Swedish and Finnish leaders hold talks amid security concerns
The prime ministers of Sweden and Finland Ulf Kristersson and Petteri Orpo are meeting today at a sensitive time for both countries. Finland is concerned about the flow of migrants to its border with Russia, and Sweden is grappling with continued delays to its Nato membership.
Sweden and Finland are close allies on strategic EU issues. Support to Ukraine, global competitiveness and the need for a restrictive and responsible EU budget highlighted productive talks with PM Petteri Orpo in Helsinki today. pic.twitter.com/itl8N7nb2B
— SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) November 27, 2023
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Large-scale arrests expected for suspected ringleaders of Dublin riot
Irish police are expected to make sweeping arrests of suspected ringleaders of Thursday’s riot in Dublin and to obtain wider rights to use facial recognition technology to help identify suspects in any future disorder.
The moves come amid mounting pressure on the government and police chiefs over the violence on 24 November when an estimated 500 anti-immigrant activists and gangs of young people looted shops, burned vehicles and attacked officers, leaving swathes of Ireland’s capital resembling a war zone.
Senior officers have promised “large-scale arrests” of ringleaders and participants in coming weeks in addition to the 34 people already arrested, the Irish Times reported on Monday.
Helen McEntee, the justice minister, also signalled an intention to fast-track legislation to expand the use of facial recognition technology to help police trawl CCTV footage after public disorder incidents.
There are about 6,000 hours of footage from last week’s riot, she said. “This should not take months. It should be done in a matter of days and in a matter of weeks. With the use of facial recognition technology that can be possible.”
The proposal has dismayed civil liberty advocates, opposition politicians and members of the Green party, a junior member of the ruling coalition.
Read the full story here.
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Wilders could nominate new 'scout' tomorrow
The Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders could nominate a new ‘scout’ for post-election talks tomorrow, after the first scout resigned today, NOS reported.
Wilders said it would be someone with more distance from politics, but did not name the individual yet.
He also reiterated his wish to become prime minister and called for other parties to come to the table.
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Nato chief warns of 'most dangerous world in decades'
Jens Stoltenberg has said before a meeting of Nato foreign ministers today that members of the alliance “will discuss urgent security issues”.
We face the most dangerous world in decades: growing global competition, war in Ukraine and renewed conflict in the Middle East.
Addressing the situation in Israel and Gaza, the Nato chief said he welcomes the release of hostages and delivery of humanitarian aid.
I call for an extension of the pause. This would allow for much-needed relief to the people of Gaza and the release of more hostages. The suffering we have seen underlines the need for a lasting political solution.
Stoltenberg also cautioned about the situation in the broader region.
We have seen drone and rocket strikes on US positions in Syria and Iraq, as well as attacks on commercial shipping. This underlines the risk of escalation. Iran must reign in its proxies.
He said Nato ministers will discuss “Russia’s destabilising actions in Ukraine and beyond”.
In recent weeks, Moscow has been facilitating the arrival of migrants at Finland’s border with Russia, prompting the closure of border crossing points, using migration to put pressure on a neighbour and a Nato ally. Nato stands in solidarity with our ally Finland.
Allies this week will also discuss China, Stoltenberg noted.
Dialogue is important, and we must seek opportunities to work together on a range of issues, including climate and arms control. China is not an adversary, but Beijing’s actions challenge our security and we must work together to respond.
And, he said, ministers will address the situation in the western Balkans.
We have seen serious violence in northern Kosovo, divisive and secessionist rhetoric in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and malign attempts to sow dissent, including from Russia.
Nato has already added extra troops in Kosovo and is “examining” a more enduring increase, the secretary general said.
Speaking of Ukraine, Stoltenberg stressed:
Ukraine continues to fight bravely, we continue to support them.
He also reiterated that Sweden has delivered on what it promised and it’s time for Turkey to sign off on the Swedish bid to join Nato.
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‘It’s scary’: residents in Rotterdam reflect on Geert Wilders’ election win
In this tiny plaza, still plastered with posters urging voters to back the minority rights party Denk, the yawning divide between voters in Rotterdam’s diverse Feijenoord district was on full display.
On one side stood Nas Kosa, a Muslim who fears whatcould lie ahead after Geert Wilders’ far-right, anti-Islam party surged to win the most seats in last Wednesday’s general election.
“We are afraid. Afraid about the decisions that will come,” said Kosa, who was born in the Netherlands to parents from Turkey. “Must we go? Where are we going to go? Netherlands is our country … it’s really scary.”
Across the street, Hasan Jakh, a recently arrived immigrant from Turkey, confessed he had voted for Wilders, driven by his frustration over the lack of affordable housing. “It’s stupid that he’s so Islamophobic,” he said. “But for the rest, he’s great.”
The contrasting narratives emerging from this corner of Rotterdam – where Wilders’ party won the most votes despite the city’s ranking as one of Europe’s most diverse – hint at how, days after his Freedom party (PVV) doubled its 2021 result to take 37 seats, many were left wondering what exactly to make of it all.
“It’s a pity,” said Abdel Amraoui, who moved to the Netherlands from Morocco three decades ago. “It says a lot about how society thinks. It seems like many people agree with what he’s saying.”
Amraoui’s wife, Saliha, chimed in. “Let’s see if he can do all the things he said he would.”
Read the full story here.
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Polish president to swear in two-week government in apparent bid for delay
The Polish president, Andrzej Duda, is set to swear in a government under the leadership of the conservative Law and Justice party’s Mateusz Morawiecki today – despite the fact that it will almost certainly fall within two weeks.
While Poland’s opposition won sufficient votes in last month’s election to form a government, Duda decided to first give Law and Justice the opportunity. The new government needs to win a vote of confidence within two weeks, but most likely will not have support in the Sejm.
🇵🇱⚖️Good morning, today Poland will have its weirdest government ever appointed around 4:30 PM Warsaw time - the doomed Morawiecki 2023 cabinet, with Zbigniew Ziobro no longer being the MoJ/PG, after 8 years of "improving the Polish judiciary".
— Jakub Jaraczewski (@J_Jaraczewski) November 27, 2023
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Dutch 'scout' resigns
Gom van Strien, the scout for the post-election talks, has stepped down. This comes after fraud claims surfaced over the weekend, which the scout has denied.
The planned talks with party leaders have been cancelled for the moment.
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Opinion: Geert Wilders’ win shows far right is being normalised
Stijn van Kessel, an associate professor in European politics at Queen Mary University, writes:
In 2000, when the Austrian Freedom party entered a coalition, other countries widely condemned the move and the EU imposed diplomatic sanctions. In 2023 it is common for European countries to be governed by far-right parties often in collaboration with centre-right parties. Next June’s European Parliament elections will surely see many voting for far right parties again.
Mainstream politicians have a moral obligation to uphold liberal democratic norms. While citizens’ concerns about cultural change and immigration can be legitimate, there is something fundamentally problematic about the far right’s idea of a “leading culture”.
Society is inherently diverse, comprising individuals and groups with differing values and preferences. “The voter”, a term repeatedly used by Dutch politicians to suggest that citizens are united in their beliefs, does not exist. Mainstream parties should recognise this and steer well clear of the far right’s anti-liberal frame that there is a “general will”.
Read the full story here.
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The shocking success of Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV party in Dutch elections has left climate activists fearful of a drastic shift to fossil fuels and a rollback of climate policies if it manages to form a government.
Best known abroad for its rhetoric against Muslims, the PVV, which came first in Wednesday’s election but may struggle to find coalition partners, has taken a hard line on policies to stop the planet getting hotter.
The party wants to extract more oil and gas from the North Sea and stop building wind turbines and solar farms. It also wants to abolish the Dutch climate law and leave the Paris agreement on climate change.
“If these elections make one thing clear, it’s that politics will not save us,” said Yolande Schuur, from the Dutch branch of activist group Extinction Rebellion.
The PVV, whose success with voters was praised by far-right leaders across Europe on Thursday, has said it is not going to waste billions on “pointless climate hobbies”.
Its manifesto says that the climate has always changed and that the Netherlands – 26% of which lies below sea level – can adapt to further changes. “We will stop the hysterical reduction of CO2 , with which we, as a small country, mistakenly think we can save the climate.”
Read the full story here.
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Dutch 'scout' to meet party leaders amid uncertainty over future government
Gom van Strien, who is serving as the Netherlands’ “scout” for post-election talks, will meet with the leaders of some of the country’s biggest parties today.
He will sit down with politicians including the Party for Freedom (PVV)’s Geert Wilders, GreenLeft-Labour party alliance (GL/PvdA)’s Frans Timmermans and People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD)’s Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius.
Writing on social media platform X last night, far-right leader Wilders – whose party won the most seats in last week’s election – said that if Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, the New Social Contract’s Pieter Omtzigt and the Farmer-Citizen Movement’s Caroline van der Plas sat down with him and made “reasonable compromises” then “we will have a coalition agreement within three weeks”.
“That is what our voters want and it is the very best for the Netherlands,” Wilders argued.
The VVD has said it would not participate in a cabinet with Wilders’ PVV, but did not rule out offering a Wilders government outside support.
Catch up here on our Dutch post-election coverage.
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