Mourning in Rotterdam

Friday, May 10, 2002
It was a somber mood in Pim Fortuyn's home city of Rotterdam, where tens of thousands of mourners lined the streets to see off the slain political leader. People cried, clapped and threw flowers on the white hearse carrying Fortuyn's body as it made its way through the city, past his house, and to the 16th century church for the hour-and-a-half long service.

Attending the funeral were the politician's family and friends, the Prime Minister and other politicians from across the entire spectrum, and Fortuyn's two dogs — Kenneth and Carla. His younger brother gave a eulogy, saying Fortuyn was not an extreme rightist but a democrat and socialist who wanted to dedicate his life to serving his country.

Everything about Pim Fortuyn was unusual: from the man himself to his murder to the public outpouring of grief rarely seen in this keep-it-to-yourself country. Although a political novice, Fortuyn changed the landscape with his outspoken style in a country where the terms of debate rarely reach the extremes. Flashy, in-your-face, and openly gay, Fortuyn clearly struck a chord with Dutch voters, campaigning on a platform of zero-tolerance for crime and for immigration. He's also called Islam a "backward culture."

But despite his potential base of enemies, the man police are holding in custody for Fortuyn's murder is an environmental and animal rights activist, identified as Volkert van der Graaf. In addition to finding ammunition in his home that matched shell casings found at the crime scene, prosecutors are now saying van der Graaf may have been plotting against other members of Fortuyn's party. The names of three of them, along with maps of their neighborhoods, were reportedly found in the suspect's car. Security for the three has been beefed up in the days preceeding next week's general elections, which are going ahead as scheduled.

Back in Rotterdam, the crowds became more soccer-like as Pim Fortuyn's coffin was carried from the church. The crowd chanted his name, saying, "We will go on." One sign read: "Democracy cost a Fortuyn," which in Dutch, also means, "Democracy cost a fortune."