The general election takes place a week today. Here’s a round-up of Wednesday’s election news ahead of the November 22 vote.

Geert Wilders, leader of the far right PVV, has told television current affairs show Nieuwsuur that his views on Islam are taking a back seat because “there are more important priorities” to deal with after the election.

Immigration in general, the health service and financial security are examples of issues which, he says, are now more important than Islam. “If we are at the [coalition] negotiating table, and I expect to be there, then these will be our priorities,” he told Nieuwsuur.

Most parties, however, have said they will not work with the far right leader, including Pieter Omzigt, leader of the fledgling NSC, which is tipped to be one of the big winners. The VVD has opened the door to Wilders but campaign leader Dilan Yesligöz has also said the two parties are very far apart on some issues.

Timmermans on Thunberg

GroenLinks/PvdA campaign leader Frans Timmermans has distanced himself from the “political controversy” created by climate activist Greta Thunberg at last weekend’s Amsterdam rally for involving the war in Israel in the debate.

Timmermans was one of a host of politicians who took part in the demonstration, along with 85,000 others.

Timmermans told television programme Goedemorgen Nederland that this sort of action in particular turns people off. “And that at a time that I want everyone to get involved in the climate issue, not just from one side of the political spectrum.”

Facebook gets it wrong

Social media platform Facebook made a major blunder on Wednesday by sending out reminders to vote to members a week too early.

Thousands of Dutch users received a message early in the morning telling them that the elections take place today and linking to a government site with official information.

The site was unable to comment on the blunder, website Nu.nl said, because since this month’s reorganisation, the company does not have a press office in the Benelux region.