Geert Wilders Invites Nigel Farage to Join Anti-EU Alliance

Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Geert Wilders and Marine Le Pen launch anti-EU alliance to slay the "monster of Brussels"

Geert Wilders has appealed to Nigel Farage to join him alongside France’s Front National in building a new international movement united on an anti-European Union programme.

The Dutch far Right leader made his plea alongside Marine Le Pen, his French equivalent, in their first joint public appearance since agreeing to fight together in European elections next year.

He urged Mr Farage, the head of Britain’s Eurosceptic Ukip party, to “join our initiative” after making what he said was a “historic” announcement of a pan-European “movement of patriots”.

The Dutch anti-Muslim and Freedom Party leader, who has previously distanced himself from far Right groups including the Front National (FN), urged the more respectable British party to ally with them, saying: “I have a lot of respect for Nigel Farage – I think he is an excellent politician who is understandably very popular in the UK.

“I understand that he is not too eager today to work with my party and the others. But let me tell you, I hope that after the elections next May that Ukip will be able to join our initiative.” » | Bruno Waterfield, Brussels | Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Far-right Leaders Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders in Talks to Form Anti-Europe Alliance

Marine Le Pen, France and Geert Wilders, The Netherlands

THE INDEPENDENT: French and Dutch populist party chiefs could threaten Ukip’s influence in the EU

Both are blonde. Both are charismatic. Both are anti-immigrant and anti-European. Both have successfully brought their political movement towards – although not yet into – the national mainstream.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front in France, and Geert Wilders of the Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands, will attempt next month to launch the seemingly impossible – a pan-European Eurosceptic movement. With far-right or populist parties across Europe threatening to create upsets in next May’s European elections, Mr Wilders and Ms Le Pen believe that the time is right to form an anti-European alliance. Ms Le Pen will travel to the Netherlands next month to discuss a joint campaign in the European elections with Mr Wilders’ PVV.

Mr Wilders has already been on a European tour this summer to try to persuade like-minded parties in other countries to endorse a common Euro-sceptic and anti-immigrant platform next May, with limited success.

The Northern League in Italy, Vlaams Belang in Belgium and the Democratic Party in Sweden have reacted coolly to the idea. The United Kingdom Independence Party rejected the alliance outright. » | John Lichfield | Tuesday, October 15, 2013