It is no secret that populism is a growing trend in many countries all over the world, creating tension and unease in current political climates. The Netherlands is no exception, as proven by the background of its recent elections and the interference from Donald Trump himself.
On March 17th, 2021, Dutch elections were held to elect a new Prime Minister, and the race captured the attention of people from all over the world. What made this election unique was the explicit endorsement of Trump, who was one of the major forces behind the campaign of the leader of the Dutch People’s Party (PPE), Thierry Baudet.
The PPE is an anti-immigration, right-wing party that was endorsed by President Trump and had been gaining popularity in the Netherlands since its establishment in 2015. During the election, Baudet managed to get 10% of the vote, but the incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte narrowly won the election by only 1%.
The outcome of the election showed that populism in the Netherlands is still alive and well. While the PPE was unable to win the election, it gained significant momentum from its association with Trump and the power of his endorsement, which was seen as a major indicator of the current political climate in Europe and should not be taken lightly.
The power of Trump’s endorsement could not be denied, and it showed that the rise of populism is still a problem to be addressed in Europe. The Netherlands is only the latest example, but other countries have had similar experiences with right-wing politics and populism, fitting into a worrying trend that has been spreading all across the world in recent years.
The Dutch election in 2021 showed that populism can still be a powerful force in politics. It is important to take this issue seriously and continue to work against the spread of populism. Otherwise, we may soon be facing an uncertain future in which the values of democracy and respect for human rights are no longer being upheld.