Immigration minister backs off replacement theory support; "Very concerned" about demographic changes
The expected minister of asylum and immigration has walked back her support of a far-right conspiracy theory that mass migration to the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe is an intentional plot to replace white people with non-white people from elsewhere. Marianne Faber, who represents the far-right PVV, said on Monday that while she no longer believes in the white nationalist theory, she remains "very concerned" about the changing population of the Netherlands, she told a committee in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch Parliament.
Faber said she now "completely distances herself" from the word omvolking. The Dutch word translates as, "repopulation," and is linked to the Great Replacement Theory. She also said she should not have used that term at the start of her confirmation hearing on Monday evening. The session began at 5 p.m., and could last an extended period due to the politician's numerous controversial statements and ethical practices in the past.
"The fact is that the demography of the Netherlands is changing. It is very legitimate to be very concerned about this. I am too. But I realize that the words 'repopulation' and 'replacement theory,' a consciously planned policy to transform or replace a population, are incorrect and undesirable. And also has terrible connotations to the past and Nazism," Faber told the politicians.
"I do not believe in a plan or conspiracy, and my party and I abhor everything that has to do with Nazis and their ideology." She also noted that both the domestic intelligence service, AIVD, and the Dutch counterterrorism office, NCTV, have expressed disdain for the theory. "I agree with that, and I will no longer use those terms." She said she has "no trouble completely distancing" herself from that, adding, "and that is what I am now doing."
At the same time, she would not answer a direct question from left-wing opposition MP Kati Piri, who asked Faber if she thought "mass immigration has led to the dilution of European and Judeo-Christian culture." Parliamentarian Christine Teunissen of the PvdD and D66 MP Anne-Marijke Podt said Faber was simply restating her belief in replacement theory but using different phrasing.
"The 'very concerned' demographic development has actually become a euphemism for repopulation," said GroenLinks-PvdA MP Kati Piri. "The worldview has not changed, she just won't say it anymore."
Both the AIVD and NCTV have consistently said in recent years that conspiracy theories are spread by far-right extremists as a way of fomenting fear and resentment of anyone not perceived to be Dutch, European, white, Christian, or a combination of those characteristics. Concerns have been rising about far-right extremism and so-called sovereign citizens who live in the Netherlands but do not believe the country's rule of law applies to them as a potential threat to Dutch democracy and stability.
Dick Schoof led the AIVD for three years, ending in 2000, and he was the head of the NCTV from 2013 to 2018. Schoof is expected to be the next prime minister, and could take office within ten days. Faber would then serve in his first Cabinet.
Faber argued that the Netherlands can no longer handle high levels of immigration in general, pointing to both the education system and the housing market. "Just look at our big cities," she said.
She also said that she wants to impose the "maximum limit" possible on the influx of asylum seekers, but also said that those in the Netherlands deserve "decent reception." The latter has been lacking as the asylum chain has buckled under enormous strain in recent years after a decade of cuts to asylum shelter in the Netherlands.
She also expressed a slight degree of contrition for previously referring to the Cabinet as a "fifth pillar," implying that the Cabinet was illegitimately established by shadowy elites looking to undermine Dutch society. "I was fierce," as a member of the opposition, "Maybe too fierce."
