Pim Fortuyn

Dr. Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuijn, known as Pim Fortuyn (surname pronounced somewhat like for-TOYN, IPA: {{IPA|}}), (February 19, 1948 – May 6, 2002), was a controversial politician in the Netherlands who formed his own party List Pim Fortuyn (LPF). He was assassinated during the 2002 Dutch national election campaign by Volkert van der Graaf, a white collar left-wing environmentalist. Fortuyn could perhaps best be described as a liberal right-wing populist, though some of his ideas were rather leftist; he was in favour of free public transportation and reducing the size of the Dutch military.

Biography

Fortuyn was born on February 19, 1948 in Velsen, in a Catholic family. He studied sociology in Amsterdam and later worked as a lecturer at the Nijenrode Institute and as an associate professor at the University of Groningen. In 1988, he moved to Rotterdam, becoming director of a government organisation administering student transport cards. From 1991 to 1995, he was an extraordinary full professor at the Erasmus University, holding the Albeda professorship in public service wage negotiation. When he left that position, he made a career of public speaking and writing books and press columns, gradually becoming involved in politics.

Related Topics:
February 19 - 1948 - Velsen - Catholic - Sociology - Amsterdam - Lecturer - Nijenrode Institute - University of Groningen - Rotterdam - 1991 - 1995 - Erasmus University - Politics

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On 26 November, 2001, he was elected by a large majority as lijsttrekker (head of the list of candidates) for the newly formed Leefbaar Nederland party to participate in the Dutch parliamentary elections of May 2002.

Related Topics:
26 November - 2001 - Leefbaar Nederland - 2002

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On 9 February, 2002, he was interviewed by the Volkskrant, a Dutch newspaper (see below). The statements he made were considered so controversial that he was dismissed as lijsttrekker the next day. In the interview, among other things, Fortuyn said he favoured an end to Muslim immigration, if that were possible. Having been let down by his party, on 11 February, 2002 Fortuyn founded his own party, LPF (Lijst Pim Fortuyn). Many supporters of Leefbaar Nederland transferred their support to the new party.

Related Topics:
9 February - 2002 - Volkskrant - Muslim - Immigration - 11 February - Lijst Pim Fortuyn

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As lijsttrekker for the Leefbaar Rotterdam party, a local offshoot of his national party, he achieved a major victory in the Rotterdam district council elections in early March 2002. The new party obtained about 36% of the seats, making it the largest faction in the council. For the first time since the Second World War, the social democratic Labour Party found itself out of power.

Related Topics:
Leefbaar Rotterdam - Rotterdam - Social democratic - Labour Party

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On May 6, 2002, at age 54, he was assassinated by Volkert van der Graaf. The attack took place at a parking-place outside a radio studio in Hilversum, where Fortuyn had just given an interview. This was nine days before the elections for the lower house of Parliament, for which he was running. The attacker was pursued by witnesses and was arrested by the police shortly afterwards, still in possession of a gun.

Related Topics:
May 6 - 2002 - Assassinated - Volkert van der Graaf - Hilversum - Gun

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Volkert van der Graaf confessed in court months later to Holland's first political assassination since WW II, claiming that he shot Pim Fortuyn "to defend Dutch Muslims from persecution."

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Facing a raucous court on the first day of his murder trial, he said his goal was to stop Fortuyn exploiting Muslims as "scapegoats" and targeting "the weak parts of society to score points" to try to gain political power. Van der Graaf said: "I confess to the shooting. He was an ever growing danger who would affect many people in society. I saw it as a danger. I hoped that I could solve it myself."

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The murder shocked the Netherlands, as no political assassination had occurred since the war, and as it made the cultural clashes within the Netherlands apparent. Politicians of all political parties suspended their campaigning. After consultation with LPF, it was decided not to postpone the elections. However, it was not possible under Netherlands law to modify the candidate lists, so Fortuyn became a posthumous candidate. LPF went on to record an unprecedented debut in the lower house of parliament, winning 26 seats (17% of the total 150 seats). However, after the elections in the following year this figure dropped to 8 seats, and 2005 polls show a further drop to just one seat, if elections were to be held.

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Fortuyn was buried on July 20, 2002, at Provesano di San Giorgio della Richinvelda (Provesano), in the province of Pordenone in Italy, where he had owned a house.

Related Topics:
July 20 - 2002 - Provesano di San Giorgio della Richinvelda - Provesano - Pordenone - Italy

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