“We have trust in the future” of this traditionally welcoming country, said Rasit Bal of the Muslims-Government Contact Organization, an advocacy group, which feared a victory by Wilders’ PVV party would strengthen the anti-immigrant sentiment in the Netherlands.

Bishop Gerard de Korte of Den Bosch said the outcome shows that Dutch voters rejected Wilders’ extreme rhetoric, which included calls to close mosques and ban the Quran.

“From the view of Catholic teaching that is positive,” he told RNS.

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