right: Dutch ex-PM Balkenende (Christian Democrats party)
Dutch News: The Dutch government collapsed over whether to agree to the NATO request for the Netherlands to leave Dutch troops in Afghanistan as trainers after their term expires in August.
A new coalition must be formed now, and Geert Wilders’ PVV party has a chance at being in the majority coalition. With that, it isn’t inconceivable that Wilders could be the next prime minister. As prime minister, or another high cabinet member, would he be able to cancel his racism trial? Wilders was charged because he made the movie Fitna, which uses the Koran and current news videos to show that there is an Islamic jihad movement to collapse the west and bring Islam to world power. Unfortunately, the Netherlands, like most of the rest of the western world is in such a condition that speaking an unpopular truth about Islam can bring criminal charges.
As soon as news of the government collapse went out, NATO renewed its request for Dutch troops. Dutch officers in Afghanistan were surprised to learn that the government would collapse over continuing their mission.
