Wilders going abroad with an international umbrella

Adding voice beyond Dutch borders

THE HAGUE - Populist Dutch politician Geert Wilders says he is busy setting up an international umbrella for people and organizations that share his views in the struggle for freedom and against Islam.

The founder of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), which gained 24 seats in the recent Dutch general elections, hopes he will be able to launch the International Freedom Alliance (IFA), as it will be called, with similarly minded people in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Germany and France by the end of this year.

Wilders says he is working together with prominent people in those countries but is not prepared to identify them by names just yet. The PVV leader says people who wish to support the IFA do not need to be politically active.

According to Wilders, many countries need a voice like that of his party. For instance, he points out, in Britain and France right-wing voters only have a choice between the traditional conservative parties and what he calls "unsavoury" far-right fringe parties.

Many populist statements of the media savvy Dutch politician tend to tilt to the right, but he often joins left-wing parties on economic issues. The PVV does not offer memberships to its supporters.