Geert Wilders planned to lead the anti-immigration PVV’s list of candidates for the European parliament, the AD says on Friday.

Wilders was worried that without his name at the top of the list, PVV supporters would not turn out to vote in the European elections on May 22, the paper says. The AD bases its claims on internal party documents.

However, Wilders eventually changed his mind because he did not want to go to Brussels on principle, the paper says.

Chanting

The PVV’s list of European candidates is now headed by Marcel de Graaff, who earlier this week said the Moroccan culture is inferior. He was given the top spot after a number of prominent PVV supporters left the party following the anti-Moroccan chanting led by Wilders after the local elections in March.

Wilders does remain on the list in last place – a symbolic position in Dutch politics often occupied by a prominent person who does not want to take a seat but wishes to show their support.

The PVV hopes to win most votes in next week’s elections but opinion polls suggest the party’s support is virtually unchanged and it will win four of the 26 Dutch seats, the same as the VVD and D66.