For a brief moment, it seemed that Dutch politics might change from the purely practical to something quite extraordinary. That moment is gone.Monday afternoon, Pim Fortuyn, flamboyant founder of two political parties,Leefbaar Nederland (Liveable Netherlands) and Lijst (List) Pim Fortuyn, was shot six
times, at close range, and killed in broad daylight, in a tightly guarded parking lot.
The now captured alleged assassin is a 32 year old Dutchman, Volkert van der Kamp, an environmentalist and animal rights activist.
He may have been an over-zealous idealist who believed Mr. Fortuyn was an enemy, because of his public disdain for environmental issues and his statement that if elected as Prime Minister, he would have blocked legislation to ban fur farming.
Britta Koehler, the controversial attorney who volunteered to defend the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, has offered to defend Mr. Van der Kamp.
The now captured alleged assassin is a 32 year old Dutchman, Volkert van der Kamp, an environmentalist and animal rights activist.
He may have been an over-zealous idealist who believed Mr. Fortuyn was an enemy, because of his public disdain for environmental issues and his statement that if elected as Prime Minister, he would have blocked legislation to ban fur farming.
Britta Koehler, the controversial attorney who volunteered to defend the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, has offered to defend Mr. Van der Kamp.
Mr. Fortuyn would never have been elected to the Prime Ministership. The Dutch are a sober reflective people. He simply enjoyed shocking the public and Media.
The elections, scheduled for May 15 will also occur as scheduled. The Dutch Cabinet held an emergency meeting, Monday evening, the night of the murder and the next day announced that elections should occur as scheduled.
Whatever the outcome of the elections, a coalition government will be formed and the well-established “Polder Model” of discussion, concensus and decision will continue as usual.
The elections, scheduled for May 15 will also occur as scheduled. The Dutch Cabinet held an emergency meeting, Monday evening, the night of the murder and the next day announced that elections should occur as scheduled.
Whatever the outcome of the elections, a coalition government will be formed and the well-established “Polder Model” of discussion, concensus and decision will continue as usual.