Wilders cancels visit to Terneuzen election event after mayor's complaints

PVV leader Geert Wilders decided to cancel a planned visit to an election event in the Terneuzen town hall on Wednesday after Terneuzen mayor Jan Lonink said that he was not pleased by the visit.

Lonink was concerned about the high security costs and the inconvenience the extra security will cause should Wilders attend the results party, he said to Omroep Zeeland. According to the mayor, the building would have to be cleared out for a bomb check and all visitors will have to be searched. Lonink also expressed regret that Wilders' presence would detract attention from the local election results, which is what the evening is all about.

"Wilders himself has not had the decency to call and say he's coming", Lonink said to the broadcaster. "Then the whole of the Netherlands has to jump to be ready for the gentleman." The mayor did not want to refuse Wilders, because it is a public event.

Wilders decided not to go after all, the Telegraaf reports. "In view of the reactions from politicians in Terneuzen and the possibility that this will not give the election night the festive character that such an evening should have, it was decided not to attend the results evening in Terneuzen", the PVV said, according to the newspaper.