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The Intelligence from The Economist

The Intelligence: a far-right victory in the Netherlands

Nov 23, 2023
Matt Steinglass, Europe correspondent for The Economist, discusses Geert Wilders' surprising electoral victory in the Netherlands, despite his controversial views on immigration and the EU. Can he form a government without a majority? Wendelin von Brito delves into the WeWork bankruptcy, revealing its impact on real estate amid shifting market dynamics. The conversation also touches on innovative running shoes that may change athletic standards, sparking debates on fairness and tech regulations in sports.
23:38

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The Dutch parliamentary elections saw a surprising victory for far-right leader Geert Wilders, signaling a significant shift in Dutch politics and the rise of anti-immigration sentiments.
  • WeWork's bankruptcy reflects broader issues in the real estate industry, including declining vacancy rates and the challenges of sustaining a business model dependent on venture capital and low interest rates.

Deep dives

Political earthquake in the Netherlands

In a surprising turn of events, the leader of the far-right party for freedom, Kirt Wilders, has won the most seats in the Dutch parliamentary elections. His anti-immigration, anti-EU platform secured 37 spots out of 150 in the Dutch parliament. While he still needs to gather support from other parties to become prime minister, this election result signals a significant shift in Dutch politics and will be closely monitored across Europe.

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