Jetten vs. Wilders: The Dutch lesson in beating right-wing populists

In an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit, historian René Cuperus explains how the Dutch liberal leader Rob Jetten toppled right-wing populist Geert Wilders in the Netherlands. He noted: “For the first time we had the feeling on election night that Wilders was really defeated.”

And he added that Jetten’s approach was defined above all by boldness: “He had the courage to confront Wilders head-on … this fearlessness, this self-confidence — that decided the election.”

Cuperus argues that Jetten’s campaign combined a reclaiming of national symbols (such as the Dutch flag) and a shift in migration policy toward the centre, thereby neutralising Wilders’ dominance of the issue. At the same time, Wilders’ party suffered from its government mis-steps and the fact that other parties refused to work with it — forming a de-facto “firewall”.

However, Cuperus warns: although Wilders may be weakened, “populist themes have long since entered the mainstream”. The case shows that democratic parties must not only isolate populists, but also offer real programmes and a message of hope — not fear.

TCE