Free Republic

Mr Wilders, the leader of the anti-Islamist Party for Freedom (PVV), is taking on Mr Rutte, from the Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), in the knife-edge election race. The blonde populist has already cast his vote in the election after a fiery election campaign in which he pledged to shut the country's borders, ban the Koran and close mosques. 11am GMT update: Many PVV voters are backing Mr Wilders in order to rock the political establishment and voice their anger over sky-high immigration. "I am voting for Wilders. I hope he can make a change to make the Netherlands...

AMSTERDAM, 22/05/08 - A commotion has arisen within the conservative (VVD) party about the decision of a local branch to organise a halal gathering. Meetings of the VVD are known for the wine and cigars afterwards. But the VVD in the Amsterdam district Zeeburg is organising a meeting next month at which no alcohol may be served and only dishes will be available that are prepared according to Islamic rules (halal), newspaper De Telegraaf reported yesterday. Chairman Dirk Hanke of the VVD Zeeburg said that the report was not correct. The food is indeed halal, but it will be possible...

AMSTERDAM - "Mohammed is, measured by our Western values, a perverse man. A tirant. If you do not do as he said, it will end not good for you. It reminds me of the megalomanic leaders in the Middle East: Bin Laden, Khomeini, Saddam." This was said by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, coming member of the Dutch parliament for the VVD, today in Daily Trouw in the series 'the Ten Commandments'. Hirsi Ali says she took back earlier comments about 'the backwardness of Islam' to prevent that such comments were constantly used to attack her. "I changed my words to make...