Imitating and Collaborating with the Far Right: Dilan Yeşilgöz and the VVD’s Strategic Response to the PVV’s Electoral Success
Jullie Hellemons '25
Political Science, Geography, with a minor in History
My thesis explored how the Dutch centre-right responded to the increased popularity of the far-right PVV, shedding light on how centre-right electoral strategies can contribute to the mainstreaming of far-right rhetoric. I focused on VVD party leader Dilan Yeşilgöz, examining how she has positioned the party on the issues of immigration and economic discontent since the 2023 general elections. I identified four recurring frames in her speeches and analysed how these reflected a strategic response to shifts in the electorate, while also paying attention to how they intersected with the VVD’s strategy of collaboration with the far right.
What drew you to explore this topic?
While the imitation of far-right rhetoric has been widely discussed in party politics research, there has been a lack of qualitative research into how such imitation occurs. As a Dutch student, I wanted to investigate how this dynamic plays out in the Dutch context.