Geert Wilders resumes election campaign following terror threat
Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders has resumed his campaign after cancelling all activities last week following a terror threat from Belgium. The Dutch will go to the polls on 29 October.
The leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV) announced his decision on X on Wednesday. "Elections are coming up, it's campaign time, and I feel a great responsibility for the Netherlands and all PVV voters," he wrote.
Last week, Wilders cancelled all campaign activities because he was among several politicians who had been targeted by a terrorist cell that was dismantled in Antwerp.
'Bad feeling'
Belgian security services arrested two suspects in Antwerp last week who were reportedly planning to attack politicians with a drone. Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever and Antwerp mayor Els Van Doesburg were also among those targeted.
Although the Dutch counterterrorism service said there was no "residual threat" to Wilders following the arrests, he decided to suspend his activities because he had a "bad feeling" about the situation, he announced on X.
Polls show slight loss
Wilders has been living under strict security measures for years and has frequently spoken out about threats made against him. Much of his statement on Wednesday was devoted to his safety. "After all these years, I no longer know the feeling of personal freedom," he wrote.
On Sunday, Wilders did not take part in the first televised debate of this election campaign, which was broadcast on RTL. A poll published on Tuesday showed the PVV losing three seats compared to two weeks earlier, although it remained the largest party with 31 projected seats.
Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders © ANP/ HOLLANDSE HOOGTE / LAURENS VAN PUTTEN
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