Dutch murder
Tuesday May 07 2002
The murder will undoubtedly attract even more sympathy for Mr Fortuyn's followers who were already poised to overtake most of the traditional parties and come in at least third in elections due to take place in nine days.
Opinion polls had suggested Mr Fortuyn's party was on course to win around 15pc of the vote. Such a forecast was not fanciful considering it already secured some 35pc of the vote in local elections in Rotterdam.
The rise of such a group, with a blatant anti-immigrant stance which mirrors the turn to the right in France, does little for the stability of Europe.
But as British Prime Minister Tony Blair put it last night: "No matter what feelings political figures arouse, the ballot box is the place to express them."
Yet Europe is undoubtedly experiencing a convulsive period in which all democratic parties must assert themselves.
As Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said, the political atmosphere was "already very delicate, this on top, is of course, very dangerous".
- Editorial
