Rutte speaks out about the threats made to FvD leader Thierry Baudet

Since the election results last week, FvD leader Thierry Baudet, has been receiving threats. Mark Rutte has spoken out about this calling it “unacceptable.” He said that not only is democracy important, but that all politicians should have the freedom to do their job and be safe.   

So, what’s happened?

On Friday, a lecturer from Utrecht university wrote on Facebook “Vokert, where are you?” Vokert van der Graaf was the man who killed Pim Fortuyn, a populist politician back in 2002. This is of course implying that he’d like the same thing to happen to Baudet. For this comment he was suspended, but could not be prosecuted, as it was not explicit in harming Baudet specifically.

This weekend there was an anti-racism demonstration in Amsterdam and a clip circulated during the demonstration, showing a demonstrator all in black, with a scarf over their mouth chanting “If you want to shoot Thierry, say bang.” This was viewed tens of thousands of times and has caused quite a stir. Thousands of people showed up to this demonstration, but they were not involved in these chants. No other issues were raised, but three people from a counter demonstration were arrested for disturbing public order.

Christan Union leader Gert-Jan Segers posted on Twitter about how people’s ‘boundless love for refugees’ weirdly goes hand in hand with extreme hatred towards political opponents:

Eens! Bizar hoe bij bij deze lieden grenzeloze liefde voor vluchtelingen gepaard gaat met een dodelijke haat voor politieke tegenstanders..
Het concept van dit land: we beslechten onze geschillen met wóórden en leven in vrede met mensen van wie we verschillen. Punt. https://t.co/4pn15eFcoE

— Gert-Jan Segers (@gertjansegers) 24 maart 2019

The Amsterdam Mayor Halsema, responded to the demonstrations by saying that “our freedom…cannot be abused to intimidate others.”

Yet again politics is evoking a lot of anger not just in NL, but around the world. And whatever your viewpoints are – violence or the threat of violence should never be even considered in politics.