Tue, 9 February 2010
Text size
Geert Wilders' anti-Muslim PVV is at risk of becoming like the Nazi-era NSB party, according to Dutch singer and performer Herman van Veen.Following his warning he received thousands of hatemails from Wilders supporters "which contained very nasty things" after he had warned against the undemocratic structure of Wilders' Freedom Party. Geert Wilders issued a statement on Tuesday saying that he disapproves of any threats by his followers against Van Veen.
The Berlin Wall
Populist daily De Telegraaf reported on Monday about a speech which Van Veen, who is 64, gave at a a meeting in Utrecht to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Van Veen reminded his audience that the Freedom Party does not accept members and is financed only by donations, not by fees. "Such a party is a threat to democracy," he said.
On his own website, Herman van Veen explained his view. His remarks on Sunday were prompted by reminiscences of a politically controversial interview he gave in East Berlin in 1989, three weeks before the Wall fell. The East-German reporter got into trouble with the communist authorities over the interview. Looking back at those events,
"I expressed my concern about the old totalitarian systems and said we must make sure that the structure of political parties is based on democratic principles. I want to explain that the Freedom Party should not become like the NSB. The history of one person should not become the future of another. In my view, the Freedom Party is not a political party, but an association, a movement, where one single man decides. That is not democratic. Hence my concern.
The character of the thousands of reactions I am receiving is confirming my worries."
The NSB was the Dutch pro-Nazi party between 1931 and 1945.
A guide to telephone, internet and television along with utility services water, electricity and gas in the Netherlands.
Lost in the Dutch immigration system? Look no further than this guide compiled for our Survival Guide 2009.
Some basic facts and figures about living and working in the Netherlands.
The challenges and benefits of the maternity system in the Netherlands and how it differs to other countries.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Flickr
General rating: Not rated yet
Rate article:
Add my rating