The Netherlands' centre-left government is steeling itself today for an election thrashing by the novice party of assassinated anti-immigration populist Mr Pim Fortuyn and the conservative opposition Christian Democrats.
Campaigning for tomorrow’s vote was stopped after Mr Fortuyn was shot dead last week, but the party he founded just three months ago charged that government leaders had incited hatred of Mr Fortuyn by demonising him as a right-wing extremist.
The centre-left coalition led by Prime Minister Wim Kok's (PvdA) Labour Party, in power for almost eight years, was losing support as the Mr Fortuyn’s List gained strength in a country renowned for tolerance, prosperity and stability.
The first major opinion poll since Mr Fortuyn's killing last week predicted yesterday that his party would trail only the Christian Democrats (CDA) in the new parliament. The two have been tipped as potential coalition partners.
Amsterdam voters of all political persuasions said Mr Fortuyn's rise and fall showed people were frustrated and disenchanted with mainstream political parties that had lost touch with ordinary people.