International

Dutch election on schedule

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS MAY 8 . The Dutch general election, scheduled for May 15, is to go ahead, despite the murder of the controversial right wing politician, Pim Fortuyn, on Monday.

Fortuyn presented a challenging paradox on the Dutch way of life. An openly gay, former socialist professor with a history of liberal social views, he was against more immigration into the country but often said that he was not a racist, describing himself instead as a "man of the world". Of late, he had been a severe critic of Muslim orthodoxy and religion.

Today, Fortuyn is being mourned by a wide cross-section of the Dutch population, which includes many of the minorities against whom he spoke. A local observer notes: "Rotterdam mourned Fortuyn on Tuesday as thousands of people, men and women, old and young, families with children, solid Dutch burghers, lanky African students and young Turkish girls in modest hand scarves, stood in a snaking line to enter their names in books of condolence at city hall, or added their bouquet to a growing mould of flowers in front of Fortuyn's brick townhouse."

Such a display of mass grief has overwhelmed many foreign observers, who had predicted an upsurge of racial tension in major Dutch cities, none of which has so far taken place.

Fortuyn's political party, Fortuyn List, today resolved not to replace him as its head until after the general elections on May 15.

The List party had been expected to emerge from the election as one of the largest political forces.

Minus Fortuyn's populist appeal and charisma, however, List may not have much political future; much will depend, however, on how the new Dutch Government responds to populist sentiments for greater restrictions on immigration.

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