Analyse
Wilders’ phrase, *'The fewer Moroccans, the better. I’ll arrange that,'* was ruled by Dutch courts (2016) to be a **group insult** targeting Moroccans as a population, rather than a literal policy proposal. The statement lacked concrete legislative or executive measures to achieve such a reduction, making it **rhetorical incitement** rather than a factual claim. Courts found it constituted **hate speech** under Article 137c of the Dutch Penal Code, as it singled out an ethnic group for exclusion. His later appeals (upheld in 2021) confirmed the verdict, rejecting arguments of 'free speech' due to its discriminatory intent.
Achtergrond
Wilders, leader of the far-right **Party for Freedom (PVV)**, made the remark during a 2014 post-election rally after asking supporters whether they wanted *'more or fewer Moroccans'* in the Netherlands. The comment sparked outrage, leading to a **two-year legal battle** culminating in his conviction (though no penalty was imposed). The case highlighted tensions between **free speech** and **anti-discrimination laws** in the Netherlands, with Wilders framing it as political persecution while critics cited its alignment with rising Islamophobic and anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe.
Samenvatting verdict
Geert Wilders’ 2014 statement was a discriminatory campaign slogan, not a verifiable policy plan or actionable commitment, and it led to his conviction for inciting discrimination under Dutch law.