The Netherlands’ ruling coalition collapsed after Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV), announced on Tuesday that his party is pulling out over disagreements on asylum seekers.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, Wilders said, “I signed up for the strictest asylum policy, not for the downfall of the Netherlands. And our responsibility for this cabinet therefore ends here.”
Prime Minister Dick Schoof now leads a caretaker government with only 51 of the 150 seats in parliament, after the PVV’s exit stripped the coalition of its majority. Schoof described the PVV’s decision as “unnecessary and irresponsible” following a cabinet meeting but gave few details about his private talks with Wilders, according to CNN.
The PVV had been the dominant party in the current government, which took shape after the November 2023 election. However, Wilders himself was sidelined from the cabinet as part of the coalition agreement, despite his party’s victory. That coalition, considered the most right-wing in Dutch history, is now in disarray.
Last week, Wilders issued an ultimatum to the government during a formal press conference.
He demanded sweeping restrictions on asylum, including closed borders and a halt to the construction of asylum-seeker centers. “The PVV promised voters the strictest asylum policy ever, aiming to make it the strictest in all of Europe,” he said. “We proposed a plan to close the borders to asylum seekers, to stop them, to send them away. To stop building asylum-seeker centers, to close them.”
Despite the minister for asylum and migration being from his own party, Wilders claimed the government rejected the proposals, prompting his move to withdraw.
The fallout has sparked calls from opposition parties for fresh elections. Polls show the PVV would likely remain the largest party if elections were held now, but they also indicate a potential resurgence of both right and center-left parties.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, Wilders said, “I signed up for the strictest asylum policy, not for the downfall of the Netherlands. And our responsibility for this cabinet therefore ends here.”
Prime Minister Dick Schoof now leads a caretaker government with only 51 of the 150 seats in parliament, after the PVV’s exit stripped the coalition of its majority. Schoof described the PVV’s decision as “unnecessary and irresponsible” following a cabinet meeting but gave few details about his private talks with Wilders, according to CNN.
The PVV had been the dominant party in the current government, which took shape after the November 2023 election. However, Wilders himself was sidelined from the cabinet as part of the coalition agreement, despite his party’s victory. That coalition, considered the most right-wing in Dutch history, is now in disarray.
Last week, Wilders issued an ultimatum to the government during a formal press conference.
He demanded sweeping restrictions on asylum, including closed borders and a halt to the construction of asylum-seeker centers. “The PVV promised voters the strictest asylum policy ever, aiming to make it the strictest in all of Europe,” he said. “We proposed a plan to close the borders to asylum seekers, to stop them, to send them away. To stop building asylum-seeker centers, to close them.”
Despite the minister for asylum and migration being from his own party, Wilders claimed the government rejected the proposals, prompting his move to withdraw.
The fallout has sparked calls from opposition parties for fresh elections. Polls show the PVV would likely remain the largest party if elections were held now, but they also indicate a potential resurgence of both right and center-left parties.
