28 June 2011 In a leaked copy of a speech, Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Verhagen addresses Christian Democratic Party members with the message that worries about foreigners are ‘understandable’. Verhagen seeks to distance himself from the increasing populism in the Netherlands yet recognizes what drives it. He notes that “People are concerned about churches…
29 June 2011 Dutch Home Affairs Minister Piet Hein Donner announced during the recent parliamentary debate over integration that the burqa is ‘against Dutch norms and manners’. Just as individuals are not permitted to walk around the streets naked, they should be prevented from wearing the burka. According to coverage in the Telegraaf, then, the…
30 June 2011 Radio Netherlands Worldwide provides a feature commentary on proposals by the leader of the Freedom Party (PVV), Geert Wilders, to cut immigration by 30% over the next four years. The article considers whether the country is leading the way as pioneer in restrictive immigration laws as a part of the European vanguard,…
30 June 2011 The Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) has requested that grandchildren of immigrants to the country remain classified as ‘immigrants’ for the purposes of tracking the progress of their integration. PVV representative Joram van Klaveran made the request of internal affairs minister Piet Hein Donner on the grounds that third generation immigrants cause specific…
