Wilders said in his opening remarks: “I applaud the fact that you invite someone who does not share your enthusiasm for the European Union. Or your European dream as Euro commissioner Frans Timmermans just called it. To be honest: his dream is my nightmare.”
Dal leader antiUe olandese @geertwilderspvv mi divide molto.M è stato bello e utile discuterci con spirito aperto. https://t.co/xAPGx6Z3xM
— Enrico Letta (@EnricoLetta) September 3, 2017
The leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), said “mass immigration” without any vetting to the European Union was to blame for terror attacks in Europe.
#TEHA Forum 'Our people are being replaced by #Islam,' @geertwilderspvv @classcnbc https://t.co/NBW7sBcHhf
— TEH-Ambrosetti (@TEHAmbrosetti) September 3, 2017
He denounced the globalist EU superstate and the on-going Islamization of the European continent at the exclusive Ambrosetti Forum, hosted in Italy by the European House, a highly influential think tank.
He said very few people take the EU seriously as a democratic institution after experiencing their undemocratic dictates. “Last year, a large majority of the Dutch voted in a referendum against the EU Association Treaty with Ukraine, but the treaty was pushed through anyway.”
He noted that “independent, sovereign and democratic nations” should be working together without a “supranational political union — a Europe without the European Union” as “true democracy can only exist and flourish within a nation state”.
Wilders reminded the audience that “democracy equals home rule”, because in 2005 referendum, the Dutch voted against the European Constitution, and despite that “a slightly altered version under a new name was forced down our throats”.
The result of the loss of sovereignty was devastating, Wilders said. “If you give away the keys of your own house to someone who leaves the doors unlocked you should not be surprised when unwelcome guests force their way in. I believe every nation should be in charge of its own borders and decide themselves who is welcome and who is not. The Netherlands is the home of the Dutch people. It is the only home we have got.” He added that gaining control over the border and immigration policy were paramount.
“We Dutch, hold dear as well is our national identity. The Dutch have their own identity. And so do the other nations of Europe. There is no single European identity.
“The EU is characterized by cultural relativism and enmity towards patriotism. But patriotism is not a dangerous threat; it is something to be proud of,” Wilders explained.
He said the EU resembled “a cartel of governments dominated by Germany and France” since these two powerful nations “decide almost everything”.
He quoted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as saying: “Europe is a community of Christian, free and independent nations. The main danger to Europe’s future comes from the fanatics of internationalism in Brussels. We shall not allow them to force upon us the bitter fruit of their cosmopolitan immigration policy.”
Wilders pointed out that the the Poles, the Hungarians, the Dutch and the Italians did not elect German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Macron and nor did they elect Jean-Claude Juncker. In fact, Timmermans saw support for his party’s globalist policies decimated during the elections.
“We Dutch, in last March general elections have decimated the most pro-EU and pro-Islam party of The Netherlands: the Social Democratic party of my fellow countryman Mr Timmermans, sitting next to me here this morning, his party lost 75 percent of its seats. My party, the most anti-EU and anti-Islam party of The Netherlands won 33 percent more seats.
“Out of the 13 parties in Lower House of Parliament of The Netherlands we are no. 2 now for the first time ever. And next time we will be no. 1.”
— Voice of Europe (@V_of_Europe) August 27, 2017
Wilders reminded the audience that European civilization, “based on the legacy of Jerusalem, Athens and Rome, is the best civilization on earth”. He continued: “It gave us democracy, freedom, equality before the law, the separation of church and state, and the notion of sovereign states to protect it all. The remedy to all the misery and terror is clear: We have to reassert what we are. Only then will we be able to ensure a future for our children in a safe, strong and free Europe.”
He also noted how his right to free speech had been trampled on. “I believe in free speech. I pay a very heavy price for it. I am on the death list of Al-Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban and other Islamic groups. I live in a safe house provided by the Dutch state and I have been under 24/7 police protection for 13 years now. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. So am I.”
The PVV politician defended the anti-immigration stances of several Eastern European nations. “The European Commission voices its concern about the so-called threat to democracy in countries like Poland and Hungary, but it totally ignores the devastating effect Islamization has on the security and freedom of Europe,” he said.
“Sovereign democratic nations are perfectly capable of working together where there are common interests — without needing a supranational political institutional like the EU.”
He added: “And know that the patriots will win. And so will the nation-state.”
“The future belongs to the Europe of sovereign nations,” Wilders concluded.
Ironically, both Merkel and Martin Schulz are now questioning Turkey’s future membership of the EU, a position for which Wilders was kicked out from his former party some years ago.
