THE HAGUE, May 29 (Reuters) - The Dutch government has failed to heed its citizens' "No" vote to the EU constitution by continuing to pursue European Union expansion, a leading right-wing eurosceptic said on Monday.

By Alexandra Hudson

    Anti-immigration lawmaker Geert Wilders, whose high-profile opposition to the constitution helped persuade 62 percent of Dutch voters to reject it a year ago, said frustration with Europe was growing as political elites became more isolated and he would campaign on the issue during the 2007 Dutch election.

    "The best thing would be to declare the European constitution dead and buried once and for all, without any further debate," said Wilders, who alongside Somali-born former lawmaker Ayaan Hirsi Ali has lived under guard since Muslim radicals issued death threats against him in 2004.

    "This is the only way which would please the growing majority of the Dutch population who are against it ... and who will never say 'Yes' to any other draft."

    EU foreign ministers meeting at the weekend acknowledged there was little immediate prospect of reviving the charter, which must be ratified by all EU states to come into force.

    Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said ahead of the meeting he thought the EU needed about one more year to reflect on how to revive it, although he believed it would stay dead.

    However, many in Brussels hope possible changes of government in France and the Netherlands in elections in 2007 could help galvanise the ailing constitution project.

    Dutch voters rejected the charter in a referendum last June -- just days after the French also voted "No", but 15 other countries in the 25-member bloc have ratified the constitution.

    A recent survey by Dutch pollster Maurice de Hond showed on Saturday 68 percent would now vote "No" and a majority rejected further EU expansion to include Romania and Bulgaria.

     VOTE AGAINST ENLARGEMENT

    Wilders, seen as an heir to murdered populist Pim Fortuyn, said the Dutch were not anti-Europe but were against a more politically integrated Europe. He added that contrary to warnings the lack of a constitution had not paralyzed the bloc.

    "Most people feel very little has been done with their "No" vote," he said, noting people felt infuriated that despite the referendum vote entry negotiations with Turkey had begun regardless and Romania and Bulgaria looked set to join.

    "If you want to make Europe more unpopular this is the best way to do it," he said.

    Wilders was forced out of the liberal VVD, part of the ruling centre-right coalition, for refusing to toe his party's line in support of Turkish EU membership. He founded a one-man party and is seen gaining as many as eight parliamentary seats in the next general election from the 150 available.

    He has proposed a law obliging the government to hold a referendum on Turkey, but expects parliament will reject it.

    "If my law were accepted then I believe the vast majority of the Dutch people would say 'No' and negotiations with Turkey should be stopped immediately," he said.

    "Turkey is a very good neighbour, but a good neighbour is not the same as a member of the family," he said, adding: "Europe should not have an Islamic country in its midst."

    Wilders insisted a "No" to Turkey joining the EU would not amount to a rejection of the Netherlands 1 million Muslims, mainly of Turkish and Moroccan origin.

    Nonetheless in his election manifesto, Wilders advocates stopping Muslim immigration for a five-year period alongside a ban on the building of mosques and religious schools.