PVV leader Geert Wilders visited a demonstration against the arrival of an extra youth asylum center in Helmond on Tuesday evening. He is concerned about the safety of the people of Helmond, but the mayor says that normally there is “no significant nuisance” from asylum seekers.
Wilders is on stage for less than ten minutes to address the few hundred demonstrators who have gathered.
The PVV leader asks them one question after another. “Do you want another asylum center here?” “No!” the audience answers. “Every asylum center is one too many. Do you agree with me?” “Yes!” the demonstrators shout. At one point, “less, less, less” is spontaneously chanted.
Of course, this brings back memories of 2014, when Wilders asked his audience after the municipal elections if they wanted “more or fewer Moroccans”. Wilders was convicted of group insult in a higher appeal for that speech.
There are also attendees with the controversial Prince’s Flag. The orange-white-blue is used by far-right groups such as the National People’s Movement (NVB) and Voorpost. The latter group is also visibly present. Earlier in the day, they hung a banner at Stationsplein in Helmond calling for remigration.
The municipality of Helmond is currently accommodating fifty unaccompanied young asylum seekers. Fifty more will be added, according to the plan.
In addition, a location is being sought for 250 regular asylum seekers. This number comes from the distribution law. This search has been going on for some time and there is still no progress, a spokesperson for the municipality said. Tuesday evening’s demonstration is aimed at those fifty extra young asylum seekers.
Mayor: ‘I’m more worried about the weather’
Mayor Potters is confident beforehand that the demonstration will proceed peacefully, he says to NU.nl just before the program begins. “I’m more worried about the weather.” Ultimately, three arrests are made. The police feared the use of heavy fireworks, but nothing is heard of it.
The arrival of the extra asylum seekers had already been discussed with local residents. Of the four hundred Helmond residents contacted, twenty attended an information meeting, says Potters. “Of course there were critical questions, but the evening was otherwise calm.”
According to the mayor, there are no problems with the asylum seekers who are already in Helmond. “There is no significant nuisance. There is good contact with the neighbors.” In any case, this issue is “quite calm” politically in Helmond, Potters says.
‘What about the safety of your women?’
Not so long ago, there was a serious incident with young asylum seekers in Helmond. At the beginning of this year, the East Brabant court sentenced four boys for a gang rape in the municipality. The perpetrators were underage foreigners.
Wilders plays on that Tuesday evening. “What about the safety of your women and your daughters? What about the safety of your families?”
Wilders wants to close the borders and send back people who come to the Dutch border with an asylum application. After all, they come from safe Belgium or Germany.
“I have asked VVD, NSC and BBB whether, like Germany, they are prepared to guard the borders and send back people from safe neighboring countries with asylum applications. But they didn’t dare,” says Wilders. According to him, the cabinet fell because the coalition parties did not want to agree to this PVV requirement.
What Wilders does not mention is that this German proposal recently failed in court.
‘Minors are more than welcome’
About 100 meters away is a counter-demonstration, as can be seen in the photo above. According to a spokesperson, it is a diverse group of organizations such as Platform Stop Racism and Fascism and “some local pro-Palestinian groups”. There was also contact with the Helmond faction of DENK, although the party is not actively involved.
“Minors are more than welcome. There are only fifty of them,” says the spokesperson. “Providing good care for these people is a human thing to do.” The counter-demonstrators are standing next to the council chamber where the Helmond municipal council is meeting at that moment. “We also want the council members to hear our voice.”
Wilders also addresses the local government. “We no longer accept that our safety is being gambled with. That is why I say to the municipal administration that is meeting tonight: put the people of Helmond first again.”
Potters already announced before the demonstration that the meeting would not be about the arrival of an asylum center as far as he is concerned. The agenda includes whether or not freight traffic is allowed to pass through Helmond.