PVV drops Nexit backing from EU election manifesto

The far-right PVV has dropped its commitment to a Nexit and has given its backing to Ukraine’s battle “against the Russian aggressor” in the party’s manifesto for the June European elections.

The u-turn is a remarkable one for the party, which campaigned in 2019 for the Netherlands to leave the eurozone and the EU, and repeated calls for Nexit referendum in its manifesto for the national elections last year. 

The party is still opposed to a “European super state” and wants to “work extremely hard” to change the EU from the inside, the manifesto, published on Friday, says. 

Commentators say the new tone is a continuation of the trend the PVV has shown since last November. More extreme standpoints – such as a ban on the Koran – have been put on ice since the party joined negotiations on forming a new government. The VVD, NSC and BBB all back European cooperation. 

But the manifesto does call for a Dutch opt-out on asylum issues and calls for an “extremely restrictive migration strategy”.

On agriculture and climate change, the party calls for “policy based on a healthy understanding”. “We will decide ourselves if we eat meat, take the plane or drive a petrol car, not Brussels,” the manifesto states. 

According to an Ipsos I&O poll last month, the party could win 25% of the Dutch vote on June 6, roughly in line with its support in the November general election. In 2019 it won no seats at all.

Wilders did not say who will lead the PVV’s European campaign. Parties have until April 22 to register their lists of prospective MPs. 

EU nationals who live in the Netherlands also have until April 22 to register if they plan to vote here using a special form. In 2019, only 12% of EU nationals registered to vote in the Netherlands.