Even among the strange cast of European far-right populist leaders who have been gaining prominence in recent years, The Netherlands Geert Wilders is unique.

Wilders barely campaigns in the traditional sense he avoids debates, televised interviews and doesnt talk to the national press . Hes been under 24-hour security protection for more than a decade over fears for his safety, and communicates to supporters mainly through incendiary tweets. Hes worked in politics since 1990, yet casts himself as the firebrand outsider.

Wilders anti-Islam, anti-immigrant Party for Freedom consists solely of himself, and its currently in a close race to garner the most votes of any single party in the Netherlands elections on Wednesday.

Although the countrys multiparty system makes Wilders chances of governing extremely slim, he has managed to pull all of Dutch politics into his orbit while championing discriminatory views in a society that has historically promoted tolerance.

The Netherlands election campaign has revolved largely around debates that Wilders has spent his career framing, notably the role of Islam and immigration in Dutch society. Wilders, who calls for such policies as banning the Quran and taxing women who wear hijabs, has co-opted the campaign narratives through his appeals to ethnonationalism and his calculated use of the media.

Much like U.S. President Donald Trump , Wilders uses inflammatory statements and policy proposals to gain publicity and force establishment politicians to address his views. Although his strategy predates Trumps entry into politics, Wilders has certainly incorporated a bit of Trump into his campaign promising to make The Netherlands Ours Again.