The Wilders Trial: Day 2

As an update to yesterday’s report, Diana West has the full text in English of Geert Wilders’ opening statement to the court.

Day Two of the trial accomplished little beyond a decision that the comments made yesterday by judge Jan Moorse did not reveal bias, and that the makeup of the three-judge panel would not be altered.

The Christian Science Monitor has a report (Notice the obligatory “far-right” adjective attached to Mr. Wilders. MSM reporters have a one-stroke keyboard macro that injects this description into all their articles whenever the name “Geert Wilders” comes up):

A special panel of judges rejected Tuesday claims of judicial bias raised by Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders, who is facing charges of inciting hatred against Muslims.

Mr. Wilders’s trial is now set to resume Wednesday morning led by the same presiding judge, whose impartiality was questioned by the vocally anti-Islam lawmaker when the trial opened Monday morning.

“There is no substantial evidence to show that the judges have given the impression of being biased, therefore the request is being denied,” said Frans Bauduin, one of the review judges.

For the Dutch point of view, Klein Verzet is the best source. As usual, he has much more background detail than the MSM:

Today the court of substitution ruled that although the formulation of the trial court was careless, it did not show prejudice against Mr. Wilders. The trial court stays and the trial against Mr. Wilders continues tomorrow.

But other news broke today as well. President of the substitution court is Frans Bauduin. He is the same judge who refused to give the assassin Volkert van der Graaf who assassinated Pim Fortuyn just before the election a life sentence (Bauduin: “he did not disrupt the election process”). He was also one of the few judges who in the past have criticized governmental policies (NL) for fighting Islamic terrorism (NL).

Bauduin also has a side job: board member of the Morocco fund. Activities of the Morocco fund is for stimulating development aid for Morocco. For this it develops political activities (NL) and organizes Ramadan activities (NL). The foundation most likely depends on government funding (Goverment funded NCDO funds the foundation). The funding will becomes less likely when Geert Wilders his PVV party becomes part of government.

Stay tuned. Much more entertaining material lies ahead in this case.