Thousands mourn assassinated Dutch politician

Thousands of mourners filed past the open casket of assassinated Pim Fortuyn today in a solemn, often tearful tribute to the gay politician whose brash taboo-breaking policies and violent death ensured him a place in Dutch history.

Fortuyn was gunned down on Monday after giving an election campaign interview in the town of Hilversum.

A 32-year-old environmental and animal rights activist has been charged with his murder.

Crowds gathered outside the 16th century Laurens Cathedral in Fortuyn’s home city of Rotterdam several hours before the doors were opened for a public viewing - a rare tribute departing from the customary privacy accorded the funerals of even the most public figures.

‘‘This is just confirmation for me that it really happened. Everything is so unbelievable,’’ said Trudie Roskam, fighting back tears after leaving the darkened Roman Catholic cathedral.

The white coffin was surrounded by a growing mound of bouquets. A single rose rested on the chest of the politician, whose shaven head and elegant suits were as much a part of his image as his confrontational politics.

To the double line of mourners who walked past the coffin there was no physical sign of the fatal bullet wounds. Fortuyn was shot twice in the head, twice in the back and once in the neck.

Fortuyn’s body was to lie in the cathedral until it is moved tomorrow to the town of Driehuis-Westerveld, on the northwestern Dutch coast, for a service at the family tomb to be attended by Prime Minister Wim Kok and most of the Dutch political leadership.

He will be buried near his holiday home in Italy.

Fortuyn’s strident attacks against the government, the Dutch system of consensus politics and immigration catapulted him near the top of opinion polls before the general elections on May 15.

In March, shortly after forming an ad hoc party to contest local elections, Fortuyn won an astonishing 35% of the vote for the Rotterdam city council.

His style and politics broke traditional Dutch barriers of political correctness, especially regarding immigration and the growing Muslim population.

Fortuyn derided Islam as culturally backward and blamed Muslim immigrants for a rising crime rate and for repressing their women. He advocated closing the borders to new immigrants and diverting funds toward integrating those who already were in the country.

Fortuyn’s name will remain on the ballot in next week’s election, and many of the mourners said they would vote for his party, called Pim Fortuyn’s List, even though his was the only name they knew.

‘‘I’m still voting for Pim, even if it is just for the shock effect,’’ said Rahim de Haas. ‘‘There’s a lot wrong in politics. He gave a human face and a voice to all segments of society.’’