Boo-hoo-hoo!

Environmental groups have expressed shock and promised climate action in response to Dutch election results. Wednesday night saw the historic victory of the far right Party for Freedom (PVV).

The party, led by Geert Wilders, is projected to win 37 seats in the 150 seat Dutch parliament, putting it in the driver’s seat to form a new government.

“We are shocked,” Extinction Rebellion Netherlands says. “This outcome will likely mean a rollback of climate measures, new fossil investments, exclusion of marginalised groups, and more.

”Friends of the Earth Netherlands spelled out what PVV’s rule could mean for Dutch society: “A Wilders government will mean four years of climate change denial, exclusion and a breakdown of the rule of law.”

Similar talking points that the left touted after the election of Donald Trump. Wilders’ election win is one of a string of victories right-wing populist parties will continue to achieve across Europe including, most recently, Argentina with the election of Javier Milei.

This is because people are tired of ruling elites pushing policies (like climate restrictions, high taxes, and massive illegal immigration) that are detrimental to the lives and well-being of citizens of Western countries that they have known for years. Government exists to protect the citizens within its jurisdiction and not to conduct social experiments.

Hopefully, the elites won’t use the bag of tricks they utilized to oust Trump on people like Milei and Wilders, but that is probably wishful thinking. In the meantime, best of luck to those who won and be prepared to go to war since the establishment isn’t going to roll over.

PHOTO CREDIT: By Isac Nóbrega/PR – https://www.flickr.com/photos/palaciodoplanalto/32479318607, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77446590