Fractious Fortuyn party turns to political novice

The party founded by the murdered anti-immigration campaigner Pim Fortuyn has chosen a new leader – the third in its short and turbulent life – in a move that could determine the fate of the new Dutch government.

Lijst Fortuyn, which was launched in February shortly before this year's elections, has selected a 38-year-old former publisher of motorcycle magazines as its president, following a series of feuds and power struggles.

Harry Wijnschenk, who has promised to bring back charisma to public life and end internal party disputes, is a political novice like the man he succeeded, Mat Herben – who lasted for less than three months. Mr Herben's appointment had been accompanied by bitter infighting and his tenure was dogged by criticism over compromises he made during coalition negotiations. He stepped down earlier this month blaming the pressures of the job and declaring himself "tired and worn out".

Mr Wijnschenk, who is from Almere, won 16 votes at a Lijst Fortuyn (LPF) meeting held at the Amsterdam Hilton while his rival, Gerard van As, won just five. The remaining five MPs did not attend the gathering.

After their mould-breaking election success in May in which they won 26 seats, the LPF joined a three-party coalition led by the Christian Democrat leader, Jan Balkenende, and backed by the VVD Liberals. Without LPF support the government could fall.

The coalition, which was put together after tortuous negotiations, finally agreed on a programme to cut the national debt, tighten social welfare spending and slim down the civil service.

But the rapid turnover at the top of the LPF and the fractious politicking within the party has reinforced suspicions that a political movement which was modelled around the personality of Mr Fortuyn will not be able to adapt to life without him.

A flamboyant anti-immigration campaigner, Mr Fortuyn's populist brand of politics relied heavily on his personal appeal and the LPF had few precise policies. Most of its members, including those elected to parliament, had no previous political experience.

After his election Mr Wijnschenk conceded that the party has "had a difficult time", adding that "things have happened to us in 80 days which only happen to others in 80 years".

That may be an understatement because, since its triumph in May, the party has plunged in the opinion polls. The latest survey commissioned by Dutch television predicted it would lose 18 of its 26 seats in a new election.

That has led political analysts to suggest that, if the LPF ratings slump further next year, the other two coalition partners will call fresh elections and try to win a mandate without Lijst Fortuyn.

Volkert van der Graaf, the environmental activist accused of the murder of Mr Fortuyn, has now spent more than 40 days on hunger strike, protesting about his prison conditions. The 32-year-old suspect is being kept under 24-hour surveillance because of fears that he may commit suicide.

Despite assurances from the Justice Ministry that he remains in good health, a majority of parliamentarians appears to support legal moves to feed him intravenously if necessary.

Mr van der Graaf, who has not spoken to police about the circumstances of Mr Fortuyn's death, has made it clear that he does not want to be force fed. But most MPs believe that the repercussions of Mr Fortuyn's assassination were so great that it is essential the accused man survives to face trial.