THE HAGUE: Britain’s vote to leave the European Union has sent shock waves across the Netherlands, a founding father of the European Community, but despite a push by Euro-sceptics analysts say a referendum here is unlikely soon.
“Now it is our turn,” trumpeted Geert Wilders, the leader of the anti-Islam far right Freedom Party (PVV), just after the results landed.
With Dutch MPs gearing to debate the seismic impact of the Brexit this week, ahead of general elections in March, the fallout will dominate the political scene for months to come.
How it is viewed in this small trading nation of 17 million people — which, unlike Britain, is part of the Eurozone — may largely depend on the kind of deal the Brits get from the EU as they head out the door.
Wilders has promised to make a referendum on a “Nexit” a central plank of his party’s election campaign.
And he is already eyeing the power of the premiership, with polls having consistently shown in recent months that the PVV could emerge the largest party in the 150-seat parliament, although not with a majority.
“I believe we should reinvent democracy,” Wilders told AFP, insisting the Dutch people had a right to vote on the country’s EU membership.
“A real democracy cannot exist without a nation state. People don’t feel connected to a European commission or a council of men they don’t know ... that they didn’t vote for.”
Constitutionally, it would be very difficult to call a referendum now, and such a move does not enjoy enough support in parliament.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who ardently called for Britain to stay, said Friday he believed there was little “interest” for a fresh people’s ballot on the EU.
But Wilders vowed that if he is tasked with forming a coalition government in March, “I would govern with parties that would want such a referendum.”
The Dutch have already twice voted convincingly against the European project.
More than 61 per cent of the Dutch rejected the draft European constitution in 2005.
Analyst Peter Van Ham said: “If the UK gets a good deal, a kind of Switzerland deal, access to the markets, a pick-and-choose, a la carte kind of deal,” he said, then voters’ impressions that being out of the EU would be like “being North Korea would be less likely,” he said.
