Populism is a movement driven by people who feel alienated by governments they see as elite and out of touch.
The sentiments that fueled the election of President Trump are being felt in some key European elections coming this Spring.
President Trump: From this day forward, it's going to be only America first, America first.
Scott: It was a mantra, that made a rookie politician, into a president. America's disconnected voters found a candidate to connect them to a growing demand to take their country back. The election of President Trump, may be the spark that sets the populist movement on fire around the world.
Scott: It was just days after the inauguration that a Dutch politician, carried the call to all of Europe. His key note, the same that launched the campaign of Donald Trump.
Scott: People have called you the Dutch Donald Trump. What do you make of that?
Geert Wilders: Well, I'm the Dutch Geert Wilders, and I'm no Donald Trump, but there might be similarities between the movement of the people who are once again have a lot of discontent with both the former or even current administration in the United Kingdom, and so many administrations here in Europe.
Scott: The similarities between Geert Wilders, the man running to be the Netherlands’ Prime Minister and America's President, go beyond the notable hair-do's, controversial tweets and almost identical slogans: his is 'make the Netherlands great again.' Wilders, is one of Europe's loudest and most popular voices calling for closed off borders, a moratorium on mosques and even a departure from the European Union.
Scott: So, what is the next step then in this movement for you?
Geert Wilders: Well the next step is that as in the United. It's a, as I said, democratic patriotic revolution. Those are not too strong words. It's happening.
Scott: In contrasting the 'Arab Spring' of 2011, Wilders calls this, the patriotic spring in conservative, seaside village of Voldendam the chatter among card games is about the ill effects of immigration, stale politics, and Wilders.
Man: He is the best of them all! He says the things that others do not say!
Scott: Wilders is a semi-surprising twist in this country known as much for its openness as its windmills and wooden clogs. But there is little quaint in his message or his delivery. He has created a persona that has reach far beyond the Netherlands. When we were there, a film group was shooting a documentary on the politician who makes for political drama.
Geert Wilders: Never trust the press, this is my first rule, the media is dominated by leftist, liberal Germans.
Scott: Alexander Pechtold is a member of the Dutch parliament, a political enemy of Wilders.
Scott: But, but it sounds like sometimes your voice, the voice of optimism, the voice of inclusion is being drowned out pretty loudly by the other side.
Alexander Pechtold: The other side is screaming and for, for me I'm, I'm looking at the same problems. It's, of course, more difficult to, to show that the solutions are not black and white, are not that simple as closing the borders or building a wall a lot of politicians promise. So, we have to, to take it serious what's happening in the United States, what's happening not only in the Netherlands, but also in other parts of, of Europe, France, Germany, Austria, and even to Brexit in United Kingdom is in the same pattern.
Scott: In other words, the floodgates have opened. From last year's vote for the UK to leave the European Union, to the resignation of Italy's prime minister, rise of the right wing's Marine Le Pen in France, and potential political demise for one-time champion of the refugees, Germany's Angela Merkel in a tough reelection battle.
Meindert Fennema is an author and columnist, documenting the populist movement and its worldwide spread.
Scott: Speaking of, of that movement, what about the, the fact that populism has become so much stronger, so much louder all across Europe?
Meindert Fennema: The populist movement is directed against the elite for two reasons: one, is that they, they blame the elite to have created Europe and they don't want Europe, they want their own national sovereignty, like the, the British wanted and um, and the second is that the, they blame the elite for having to, for allowing foreigners to come into the country.
Scott: And while he calls Wilders and other strengthening leaders like him, harmful
Meindert Fennema: If you don't like civil rights, then he is not dangerous. If you like civil rights, he is dangerous.
Scott: Even Pope Francis this week warned against growing populism, comparing such movements to what was seen in Germany in 1933 and the election of Adolf Hitler.
Scott: Just as that movement grows though, so does the criticism. It gets very loud. People are going to continue to say that what you stand for is hateful or discriminatory.
Geert Wilders: Yes. Well, I never care about criticism. There always will be criticism and, and, just continue to fight for a growing amount of people that share our views and the vote of the people at the end of the day is the only truth that matters.
Scott: Wilders, who is leading in the polls by the way, and other politicians like will be put to the test very soon Elections in Netherlands take place in March France will go to the ballot box in April and then all eyes will be on Germany, this fall.
