Holland rejects extremism: Vote shows tide can be turned

HAD Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam, anti-European Union Freedom party been more successful the result would have been a depressing affirmation that the election of Donald Trump and Brexit are part of a pattern casting a shadow over the liberal, stable and prosperous Europe of the last 70 years.

Centre-right prime minister Mark Rutte scored a resounding victory over Wilders but he had to adopt versions of Wilders’ anti-immigration policies to secure that victory.

Mr Rutte declared it an “evening in which the Netherlands, after Brexit, after the American elections, said ‘stop’ to the wrong kind of populism”.