What's behind the Netherlands' turn to the far-right?

Geert Wilders, an anti-Islam firebrand and the leader of the Dutch People's Party for Freedom (PVV) came first in last November's parliamentary elections with 23 per cent of the vote.

The champion of national preference gained unprecedented support in a climate of deep economic and social crisis, which many blame on the outgoing Rutte-led government.

This episode of Witness takes us to the economic hub of Rotterdam, the second-biggest city in the Netherlands, and one of the places where the populist leader scored the highest.

Voters across the Netherlands have veered far to the right politically. The shift has been triggered by economic and cultural anxieties that have whipped up fears about immigrants. It's an extreme example of a trend being felt across the continent that could tilt the outcome of this year's European Union parliamentary election.

“Everything [has] become more and more expensive. Everything is just really taken away from you. And people are just afraid. We want to hear about something other than poverty and budget cuts. And if he [Wilders] thinks he can make things right, then it’s fine by me”, explained shopowner Rashma. 

Inflation, and in particular, the rising cost of food and energy prices, is hitting hard.

“Poverty is really a growing problem, even among working people,” said John, whose small charity collects food and necessities to be delivered to deprived families in a working-class neighbourhood in Rotterdam.

Caroline, one of his beneficiaries and a single mother of four told Euronews that she couldn’t cope without his help. She is one of the many people now counting on Wilders to pull the country out of recession. 

She claimed his anti-immigration stance is part of the solution: "He is going to