It was in mid-December, when thought had just successfully hijacked a local election event of right-wing populist Geert Wilders. "With negative message of Wilders, it is now over, Nerlands is done with it," said Farid Azarkan, member of Think, first party explicitly focused on immigrant voters in Nerlands.
Wilders actually had his Rotterdam top candidate to present for election on square in front of largest mosque in country. The action would have been a planned provocation in a quarter in which 75 percent of inhabitants have foreign roots. But half an hour before Wilder's appointment, members of thinkers drove to mosque. They announced that y would also take part in local elections in Rotterdam. And y showed Dutch flags.
The self-confident style is typical of thinking. The party is a response to right-wing nationalist rhetoric of Geert Wilders '. Since its foundation in year 2015, think has had some successes. It is represented in 13 municipalities of Nerlands. In national parliament she has won three of 150 seats. Especially many Turkish and Marokkanischstämmige Dutch voted for thought in elections.
But party wants more and is already planning beyond Dutch borders. "2024 we will come to Germany. That is our goal, "says think-founder Ashley Kuzu. 2024 party wishes to participate in European elections in this country. That sounds like a long-term and ambitious plan. But would thinking also have opportunities in Germany?
The think-bosses Ashley Kuzu and Farid Azarkan say: Yes. Their message is that y offer an alternative to today's Europe-wide disagreement about identity, religion and immigration. "The economy is running better, now it's time for a positive, new tone," says Azarkan.
The appearance of him at Essalam Mosque in Rotterdam was typical of thought. Azarkan ate walnut pastries that imam had offered him, and spoke nicely with all people in mosque. Think fights for fact that Dutch people with a migrant background are recognized by society as a full-fledged citizen. To achieve this goal, party does not want to compromise. "Those who are here must not integrate, but must be accepted," says Ashley Kuzu. Too often one is talking about "se Turks" or "those Muslims" who are facing " Dutch". "But we are also part of Nerlands. That is why our party focus is anti-discrimination and equal and honest treatment for all, "says Kuzu.
This message of thinking has reached many younger voters in Nerlands through a clever social media strategy. "People who are now in ir twenties and thirties grew up in years following attacks of 9/11," says Kuzu. "Since n, y have been repeatedly referred to ir origins. They always have to account for fact that y are Muslim and supposedly need to know more about terrorism. "
Date Of Update: 02 May 2018, 12:02
