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The '''Party for Freedom''' (''Partij voor de Vrijheid'' or '''PVV''') is a [[right-wing]] and [[Euroskeptic]] political party.  It currently occupies 15 seats in the Lower House (''Tweede Kamer'') of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] Parliament.  The PVV is unusual in that its leader, [[Geert Wilders]], is its only registered member.

The '''Party for Freedom''' (''Partij voor de Vrijheid'' or '''PVV''') is a [[right-wing]] and [[Euroskeptic]] political party.  It currently occupies 15 seats in the Lower House (''Tweede Kamer'') of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] Parliament.  The PVV is unusual in that its leader, [[Geert Wilders]], is its only registered member.

Because of his outspoken views on radical Islam, PVV leader Wilders is under 24-7 police protection:

Because of his outspoken views on radical Islam, PVV leader Wilders is under 24-7 police protection:

* In November 2004, "a Muslim fanatic murdered Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh for making a movie about the abuse of women under Islam".<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/4/resisting-threat-of-fanatical-islam/ Resisting threat of fanatical Islam: West must not surrender permanent liberty for temporary tolerance] - [[Geert Wilders]], ''The Washington Times''</ref>

* In November 2004, "a Muslim fanatic murdered Dutch filmmaker [[Theo van Gogh]] for making a movie about the abuse of women under Islam".<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/4/resisting-threat-of-fanatical-islam/ Resisting threat of fanatical Islam: West must not surrender permanent liberty for temporary tolerance] - [[Geert Wilders]], ''The Washington Times''</ref>

In the 2017 elections, although the PVV did not achieve a massive victory as hoped, it saw a rise in votes at the same time when [[establishment]] parties either declined or collapsed.<ref>Lane, Oliver JJ (March 15, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/03/15/dutch-elections-pyrrhic-victory-as-mainstream-party-clings-to-power/ Dutch Elections: Pyrrhic Victory As Mainstream Party Clings to Power]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref> Establishment "conservative" [in-name-only] Prime Minister [[Mark Rutte]]<ref>[http://dw.com/p/2WGTt Dutch PM Rutte issues open letter wooing right-wing voters]. ''Deutsche Welle''. January 23, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref> and several political parties did shift their stances to the political Right in order to attract voters who would otherwise have supported Wilders.<ref name="Euronews3/16/17">Harris, Chris (March 16, 2017). [http://www.euronews.com/2017/03/16/five-takeaways-from-the-netherlands-election Five takeaways from the Netherlands' election]. ''Euronews''. Retrieved March 16, 2017.</ref> Rutte's diplomatic battle with Turkey just before the election served as an example of this.<ref name="Euronews3/16/17"/><ref>Pieters, Janene (March 15, 2017). [http://nltimes.nl/2017/03/15/row-turkey-will-boost-support-pm-rutte-dutch-election-analysts Row With Turkey will Boost Support for PM Rutte in Dutch Election: Analysis]. ''nltimes.nl''. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref>

In the 2017 elections, although the PVV did not achieve a massive victory as hoped, it saw a rise in votes at the same time when [[establishment]] parties either declined or collapsed.<ref>Lane, Oliver JJ (March 15, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/03/15/dutch-elections-pyrrhic-victory-as-mainstream-party-clings-to-power/ Dutch Elections: Pyrrhic Victory As Mainstream Party Clings to Power]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref> Establishment "conservative" [in-name-only] Prime Minister [[Mark Rutte]]<ref>[http://dw.com/p/2WGTt Dutch PM Rutte issues open letter wooing right-wing voters]. ''Deutsche Welle''. January 23, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref> and several political parties did shift their stances to the political Right in order to attract voters who would otherwise have supported Wilders.<ref name="Euronews3/16/17">Harris, Chris (March 16, 2017). [http://www.euronews.com/2017/03/16/five-takeaways-from-the-netherlands-election Five takeaways from the Netherlands' election]. ''Euronews''. Retrieved March 16, 2017.</ref> Rutte's diplomatic battle with Turkey just before the election served as an example of this.<ref name="Euronews3/16/17"/><ref>Pieters, Janene (March 15, 2017). [http://nltimes.nl/2017/03/15/row-turkey-will-boost-support-pm-rutte-dutch-election-analysts Row With Turkey will Boost Support for PM Rutte in Dutch Election: Analysis]. ''nltimes.nl''. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref>