Thus the Financial Times today. “Dutch Freedom Party chief says it has never been more influential,” elaborates the newspaper. The boast is timely, for the European Union’s parliamentary elections are behind the corner. And his mates are formidable, indeed: Marin le Pen of the National Front in France and Nigel Farage of the United Kingdom Independence Party. Although le Pen and Farage have many political differences, Wilders hopes to be able to bring them closer together. Besides, there are eurosceptic parties in Italy, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. Thus he dreams of a formidable eurosceptic bloc in the making. Although Wilders remains realistic about the upcoming elections, which will not give the eurosceptics the majority they need, his dream of the Union’s breakdown is gradually taking hold across the subcontinent. “But don’t underestimate what will happen in the national parliaments,” he is quoted. Eurosceptics will have a growing influence in their own countries, too. In a few more years, the old Union may indeed smack of a nightmare.