Posted on 04/04/2008 2:53:24 PM PDT by knighthawk
Former Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk, known for her hard-line policies and no-nonsense approach, is the anchorwoman behind a new political movement, launched in Amsterdam on Thursday. Called Proud of the Netherlands, its central aim is to defend the Dutch national character.
At the launch of her new political movement, Rita Verdonk spoke forcefully about the need to protect and revitalize the Dutch identity:
"What drives me are all the people who want to be proud of our country... Too many people have lost this pride. Many are worried about the Netherlands, worried about Dutch culture."
Freedom from foreign control
She named freedom of expression and freedom of religion as essential elements of Dutch culture, as well as the freedom from foreign control, a remark that was received with enthusiastic applause.
Ms Verdonk also defended the right for anti-immigrant politician Geert Wilders to make his anti-Islam film, Fitna. She remarked that this country is in danger of losing its character:
"When we Dutch people find ourselves constantly having to move over and adapt to new cultures in our own country, I say - enough is enough!"
The comments were reminiscent of Verdonk's tenure as minister of immigration, when she made a name for herself in Dutch politics as tough-as-nails and a straight shooter.
Tapping into discontent
Ms Verdonk presented herself as an outsider in relation to the political establishment in The Hague. The established politicians only have time for the general public when the elections roll around, she argued. Once the votes have been cast, they withdraw into their own little world again to dish out cushy jobs to one other. By painting this picture, Rita Verdonk is tapping into the ongoing discontent among a section of the Dutch population that has turned its back on The Hague. The opinion polls suggest her party has enormous potential for growth.
Ms Verdonk also called for the number of parliamentary seats to be halved and for civil service jobs to be slashed. She also proposed that chief civil servants should automatically lose their jobs with the arrival of a new cabinet. It would then be up to each new minister to decide whether they be reinstated.
The budget for overseas aid was another area that came in for the Verdonk treatment. She reckons it can be cut by two-thirds, freeing up funds that can be pumped into problem areas within the Netherlands, such as education and healthcare or salaries for teachers, nurses and the police.
Geert Wilders
Proud of the Netherlands, like fellow right-winger Geert Wilders' Freedom Party, will not be a traditional political party. It won't have members, and won't get any state funding. Which is why Mrs Verdonk has been spending much of her time raising money.
Thursday's launch was also a fund-raising event. Many of the few hundred people who came to the Passenger Terminal in Amsterdam paid 75 euros to get in, and a few dozen paid 500 euros each for the privilege of having dinner with Verdonk on the ship 'The Classic Lady'.
Ping
Ping
There is a hunger here. . .and a former POW candidate, as our only hope; apologising his way through a campaign is simply demoralizing.
Like this lady. What is the Dutch for “Iron Lady”?
Depressing...truly, depressing.
Keep up the good work Iron lady!
The Netherlands, Denmark, UK, France — they are rapidly approaching the point where they are either going to have to resign themselves to submission, or take measures that will have the side effect of having their Muslim populations explode into riots (which will need to be put down with force)
I nominate this for a new award - the best phrase of the day.
Good for her. And I suspect it will be all the more effective coming from a woman.
We need a few dozen Margaret Thatchers!
By sheer necessity this will happen here, but I’m getting mighty impatient.
“Verdonk!” Sounds like a new verb!
Today, I verdonk.
Yesterday, I verdonked
In the past, I have verdonked!
According to Babelfish, it's "Ijzer Dame".
bttt
Being part Dutch and having been to the Netherlands
am glad someone is working to defend the Dutch national
character and culture
IJzere vrouw
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