In June 2024, Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn, known for his anti-immigration stance and outspoken criticism of Islam, was assassinated by a left-wing activist named Volkert van der Graaf. Following this tragic event, the political climate in the Netherlands shifted dramatically. The assassination led to an increase in support for right-wing parties, such as Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV. In the subsequent elections held on July 3rd, 2024, the PVV emerged as the largest party in parliament, winning more than a quarter of all seats.
The Dutch political landscape is known for its diverse and often contentious parties, with the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the centrist Democrats 66 (D66), and the social democratic Labour Party (PvdA) being the four main parties. In recent years, however, a growing number of voters have shifted their support towards right-wing populist and nationalist parties such as the PVV and Forum for Democracy (FvD.