Marjolein Faber “easily distances herself” from the term “population.” The PVV candidate for Asylum and Migration Minister will no longer use this word to describe demographic change in the Netherlands. With this promise, he attempts to secure the ministerial position he intends to occupy after a turbulent period.
Almost immediately after Faber’s presentation, a commotion arose due to his actions in the past. As a senator, the PVV member spoke of an agenda of “anti-Semitism, terrorism and depopulation.” Supporters of population theory believe that an elite wants to systematically change the composition of the population by replacing whites with non-Western immigrants. The term comes from Nazi Germany.
The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) warns that the population theory is a racist conspiracy theory that can fuel anti-Semitism, violence and race wars.
Faber says he now realizes that the term implies a conscious plan and that this is “wrong” and “undesirable.” In doing so, he says that he rejects the conspiracy theory. He also acknowledges that the term has a “terrible connotation with Nazism.” “I shouldn’t have used that term,” says the minister-designate.
Remarkable PVV turn
Not only in Faber, but in all of PVV, there seems to be a change of course. Last week, her colleague Reinette Klever (designated Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Aid) refused to distance herself from the conspiracy theory and spoke of “real” demographic development. PVV Chamber President Martin Bosma has also used this term regularly in the past. On Monday, Klever shared on the social media platform. x A message in which the party leader, Geert Wilders, shares Faber’s contribution and openly distances himself from the population theory.
By banning the conspiracy theory, Wilders hopes to calm the brouhaha surrounding his future ministers. Finding suitable candidates for the PVV is Wilders’ biggest Achilles heel. Faber was not the PVV leader’s first choice. He initially thought of Gidi Markuszower, but he did not pass the control of the security services.
Faber also discovered that there were still major obstacles on the path to normal ministry. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz openly expressed her doubts due to Faber’s “previous statements and tone.” She called the PVV member “not without controversy.” Never before in this formation has a party distanced itself so clearly from a designated minister. The Faber twist may eliminate the VVD and NSC annoyances for the time being.
The hard line of the PVV
Faber is known as a harsh exponent of PVV ideas. In 2022, the PVV senator asked in the presence of Prime Minister Mark Rutte whether the “fifth column does not simply sit behind the government table”, a euphemism for traitors. He also protested against the arrival as mayor of the Moroccan-Dutch Ahmed Marcouch, carrying a banner with the slogan: “No Arnhemmistan, we will lose our country.”
During the hearing, Faber refused to retract these statements. According to her, she made the statements in her capacity as opposition spokesperson. “I was fierce, maybe too fierce,” says Faber. As a candidate for minister, the PVV member says he will take a different position. She says he hopes to “collaborate with all political parties.”
Totally awesome
The upcoming opposition parties (GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, PvdD, Volt, Denk) will not be content with Faber’s charming offensive on Monday. Think leader Stephan van Baarle calls it “totally incredible” that the minister wants to work for all Dutch people.
The deputies doubt that the PVV deputy is distancing himself from the ideas behind the “repopulation term.” During the hearing, Faber continues to repeat that he believes there is a “worrying demographic shift” caused by “unbridled migration.”
GroenLinks-PvdA MP Kati Piri reacts firmly: “Faber explains exactly what repopulation is in his own words. There is no one here who has a different opinion.”
Read also: VVD and NSC remain silent on PVV ministers, but there is unrest behind the scenes
The VVD and the NSC are uncomfortable with the statements still made by the PVV ministerial candidates. But the party leaders remain silent for the moment.
