Wow. A positive comment from a prominent politician regarding immigration, AND repeated in the press. Well done everybody.

By Craig | October 7, 2011 2:10 PM

to summarize .... Geerd is Geert's puppet.

By bird | October 7, 2011 2:31 PM

What about us immigrants who haven't been oppressed at home nor are in fear of being killed? You're not open to us then? Or don't we exist, as per usual?

By CW | October 7, 2011 2:57 PM

At least one positive statement about immigrants. But lot of immigrants didn't came here because we fear oppression or the fear of being killed in our country. Most of the immigrants including expats came here for a better life. You must take it in your mind. In the process of making our lives better, you will also gain and you should tap on this potential. If you try to chase us the better ones will leave sooner.

By bimalesh | October 7, 2011 3:06 PM

It seems he is only trying to look good politically and is misrepresenting others. The stand against immigration was due to figures that showed high crime rates among certain immigrant groups and a lack of integration by certain immigrants. Immigrants truly integrating, contributing and seeking to help Nederland continue to be a progressive western society are not in question.Harsh rules meant to temper the increasing number of immigrants that hurt rather than helped the Netherlands and to enable true and productive immigration to continue seemed to be the goal not stop immigration as Leers seems to indicate.

By bet | October 7, 2011 3:59 PM

As highly skilled migrant professionals we are made to jump through hoops and wait to come to The Netherlands, even for well paid jobs. We come here and pay tax (full rate), claim no benefits yet see so many legal/illegal immigrants who contribute nothing and live off the state. A captive vote bank. Mr Leers is talking BS

By Aira Wat | October 7, 2011 4:39 PM

''The minister sees immigration as a positive that has made the Netherlands what it is."
" 'Much of the policy I carry out comes from the Christian Democrat election programme. That fact has unfortunately been pushed aside because we are in a coalition with Geert Wilders,' he adds."

Which means minister is perfectly aware, about such coalition is against 'the Netherlands what it is'. Literally in his own words.

Just a coalition against the Netherlands.

By zenplus | October 7, 2011 5:49 PM

"Anti-Islam PVV party leader Geert Wilders immediately tweeted that Leers is talking nonsense. 'The PVV insists that agreements and results are adhered to, as freedom of thought, speech and expression are not allowed should they oppose the PVV way of thinking."

Voting Dutch Public; please, remove this spoilt child/would-be-dictator from anywhere near the govenance of this country. I know the pitchfork-carrying-mob need 'someone' to vote for, but surely we can persuade someone a little more... democratic... to be their hero?

By osita | October 7, 2011 6:29 PM

At last someone sees the light !

By Andy | October 7, 2011 8:20 PM

'We have to be selective and weed out people who have no chance of contributing to our society'.

Sounds like a very cruel comment from a christian man. Should, for example, handicapped immigrants be thrown out of the Netherlands?

By Christian altruism? | October 7, 2011 8:34 PM

Wilders is not necessarily "anti-Islam"; rather, he is against the type of cultural Islam that is Jihadist.

There are more "sword verses" in the Islamic texts than in Judeo-Christian texts, though supplemental documents like the Talmud, papal pronouncements, and catechisms have defined cultural Judeo-Christianity and limited the harmful effects.

The world waits for Islam to come up with something similar, to limit the harmful effect of the numerous sword verses in the three Islamic texts. For this reason, Islam makes assimilation to western civilization difficult for it's adherents.

By Kevin Bjornson | October 8, 2011 1:23 AM

Wow, finally some positive thoughts from the Minister. Refreshing to hear. Dutch food in particular would be VERY boring without immigrants bringing their tasty goodness from afar :)

By Jitterboogie | October 8, 2011 9:35 AM

Immigration enriches the Netherlands: minister

In a nutshell, had it not been for the massive wave of foreigners taking the low paid jobs here, NL would not have done so well. Like other Western European countries that needed cheap labour to strengthen their economies.

The most inane thing to do now would be to discriminate at the people that were and still are the backbone of our economy, just because times are hard.

Any intellectual guv would know this just from history alone, duh!

By The visitor | October 9, 2011 8:23 PM