The power of populism: Geert Wilders and the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands

This text discusses the Party for Freedom (PVV), a political party in the Netherlands, founded and led by Geert Wilders.

Attaining between 10 and 18 per cent of the votes, the PVV has become one of the largest parties in the Netherlands and is the only political party worldwide without members.

Between 2010 and 2012 the party supported a minority coalition of liberals and Christian-democrats in exchange for influence on governmental policy.

The PVV can be viewed as the Dutch version of an ideological family of nationalist parties linked by their opposition to immigration and to the political and cultural elites.

Within this family, Geert Wilders has played an important role as pioneer of a new master frame, in which Islam is portrayed as the historical arch-enemy of the West.