THE NETHERLANDS: The Dutch said farewell last evening to the controversial politician Pim Fortuyn, whose bullet-riddled corpse was disinterred prior to reburial in Italy today.
On Monday the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF), free-market VVD and Christian Democrats (CDA) will replace Mr Wim Kok's centre-left government, when Queen Beatrix swears in CDA leader Mr Peter Balkenende as prime minister.
Eleven weeks after the charismatic populist was shot dead just before a May election, his body was removed from a temporary grave near Amsterdam for reburial - as directed in his will - in the cemetery of an Italian village where he had a holiday home.
About 145,000 mourners have visited the Dutch grave of Mr Fortuyn, who outraged opponents with attacks on Islam and his opposition to immigration in a country with a large multi-ethnic minority.
Dutch pop stars have recorded tribute hits, fans have set up commemorative websites and sales of his controversial books about politics have soared.
The shaven-headed ex-sociology lecturer said it was his destiny to become the Netherlands' first openly gay prime minister. An environmental campaigner charged with his murder outside a radio station went on hunger strike last week in protest over surveillance in his cell.
Mr Fortuyn's party of political novices will take charge of immigration in the new government, which has pledged to be tough on crime and illegal immigration.
The dramatic final burial of Mr Fortuyn, who employed a butler, kept two pet spaniels and saluted his party faithful in military style, has dominated newspaper headlines and the airwaves, and travel agents are offering special trips to his Italian grave.
The disinterment and reburial will be broadcast live on Dutch television. "The show goes on . . . Mourners will be allowed to place teddy bears and mementos in the vacated sepulchre," one daily newspaper said. A monument to Mr Fortuyn is to be erected beside his empty Dutch grave.
Mr Fortuyn's untried party, shocked by his murder, stormed to second place in the most dramatic Dutch election in living memory on May 15th and secured four cabinet seats earlier this month in a three-way coalition with conservatives and liberals.
His white coffin was dug up from his initial grave and driven in a funeral cortege under police escort to Rotterdam airport last evening.
A jet will be waiting to fly the body to Italy today.