Posted on 07/19/2002 10:37:55 PM PDT by Shermy
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Populist Pim Fortuyn, whose May murder was as sensational as his controversy-courting views and his sprint to Dutch political prominence, will be finally laid to rest Saturday in a marble tomb in his beloved Italy.
The flamboyant ex-professor, gunned down just days before an election that whisked his novice party into power, was disinterred Friday from a temporary grave in his birthplace near Amsterdam before flowers, toys and letters were cast in.
Escorted by police -- and dozens of leather-clad motorbikers -- Fortuyn's sunflower-bedecked white hearse was driven to Rotterdam airport, where friends and family began a vigil until the body is flown to Italy Saturday.
A tomb cut from a single block of Italy's Carrara marble, prime choice of sculptors including Michelangelo, will house the remains of the shaven-headed ex-sociology lecturer who had asked to be buried in the northern village of Provesano Di San Giorgio where he had a holiday home.
"The tomb will be above ground as Pim desired. He didn't want to be buried underground," Bruno Ambrosio, whose brother-in-law was once the gay Fortuyn's lover, told Reuters.
The tomb is etched with Fortuyn's family emblem, a Madonna ( news - web sites) and a huge cross. It will bear the motto "keep freedom of speech" in Latin.
"Pim died for that -- for freedom of speech," said Ambrosio.
Fortuyn had declared it his destiny to be the Netherlands' first openly gay prime minister. An environmental activist has been charged with his May 6 murder outside a radio station.
Fortuyn, 54, won both fans and foes with his attacks on Islam and new immigration in a proudly tolerant country with many ethnic minorities.
Though his sharp three-piece suits and chauffeur-driven Daimler jarred in this down-to-earth country, Fortuyn successfully portrayed himself as a man of the people who dared say what voters sick of cozy consensus politics really thought.
"Our mouthpiece is murdered, but the voice of the people is certainly not," read the inscription on a red granite slab placed over Fortuyn's emptied Dutch grave.
TRIBUTES, TOYS
Boxes filled with letters of tribute and toys were placed in the grave before the granite slab resealed it. Fortuyn's family gave permission for the proceedings to be broadcast live, so as to quash rumors that the casket had already been secretly removed and sent to Italy, Dutch media said.
As the Dutch bade a final farewell to Fortuyn, the party he formed five months ago readied to take its place in a center-right government.
Fortuyn's party -- basically a one-man show before his murder -- stormed to second place in the most dramatic Dutch election in living memory on May 15 and secured cabinet seats this month in a three-way center-right coalition.
The Pim Fortuyn List, free-market VVD and Christian Democrats will replace Wim Kok's center-left government on Monday when Queen Beatrix swears in Christian Democrat leader Jan Peter Balkenende as prime minister.
The new cabinet -- containing four Pim Fortuyn List ministers including one for immigration -- will hold its first meeting Tuesday.
DEATH TOURISTS?
Travel agents are offering special trips to Fortuyn's Italian grave, 75 miles from the Austrian border.
Before the turbo prop bearing Fortuyn's coffin takes off, a trumpet will sound and two fire engines on the runway will spout jets of water to form an arc set to turn into a rainbow in the sunlight, according to Dutch media.
Around 5,000 people are expected to attend Fortuyn's re-burial in Provesano, including the head of Italy's homosexual group Arcigay. The ceremony will begin at 1530 GMT.
Any pics? Should be faaaabulous.
Please post a thread about the funeral tomorrow.
So now even Reuters calls him a "Populist?" What happened to "Far Right Wing Extremist?"
A three month old party taking about 18% of the vote. And don't think others were listening. Right after that much of the "asylum" ballyhoo lost its favor. No way Blair could have created his stricter laws without the cover of Fortuyn.
A very unusual person to say the least. I hope he rests in peace. BTW, he's being permanently buried, per his will, at his little vacation estate near Venice, Italy.
Dutch Politician Fortuyn Buried In Italy
(Also for some pics)
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