Chiel beelen pim fortuyn biography

In those three months he transformed the dull, predictable politics of the Netherlands.

He claimed to resent any comparison with other extreme right-wing leaders, and particularly Jean-Marie Le Pen in France.

Theo van gogh

During our interview in Rotterdam last week, shortly before his death, he threatened three times to walk out when I mentioned their names and asked him if he was a racist.

'Archetypical right winger'

But he did not.

Publicity was too important for him to throw away.

Whatever his public statements, he shared most of Mr Le Pen's views, except on the question of Israel.

Pim fortuyn forum

But he knew that he would soon become the most important politician in the country, and was clearly expecting to win 28% or more of the vote in the next week's election.

Therefore he toned down some of his views to suit a broader electorate.

But in many ways - his avowed homosexuality apart - Fortuyn was an archetypical right-winger.

He had the same frank, sarcastic humour as Mr Le Pen,