The Dutch government, led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, collapsed on Tuesday after the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), headed by Geert Wilders, withdrew from the ruling coalition over a deepening rift on asylum policy, reported Xinhua.
"We had no choice. I promised voters the strictest asylum policy ever, but that was not granted to you," he posted on social media platform X, after announcing PVV's departure from the government.
The collapse followed months of mounting tension within the coalition. Although a government crisis was narrowly avoided in October last year through a last-minute agreement on additional asylum measures, migration remained a divisive topic.
Subsequent disputes further strained relations among the four coalition partners: PVV, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the New Social Contract (NSC), and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB).
The situation escalated last week when Wilders held a press conference to unveil a 10-point plan, headlined by a complete halt to asylum admissions.
When the other coalition leaders did not offer support, Wilders reiterated his threat that PVV would exit the government unless his demands were met.
A crisis meeting was held on Monday, but no agreement was reached. On Tuesday morning, Wilders pulled the PVV out of the coalition.
"No signature for our asylum plans. No adjustment to the main agreement. PVV is leaving the coalition," Wilders posted on X shortly after the meeting.
The move sparked outrage and disbelief among the remaining coalition parties. BBB leader Caroline van der Plas called it a "reckless action," NSC leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven described it as "irresponsible," and VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz said that "Wilders once again put his own interests above the national interests."
The fallout came at a time when Wilders' popularity appears to be waning. A recent poll by Maurice de Hond showed the PVV slipping to 28 seats, down nine from its 2023 general election result. For the first time since that election, the left-wing GreenLeft-Labor alliance (GroenLinks-PvdA) overtook PVV, rising to 29 seats.
On Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Schoof formally offered his government's resignation to King Willem-Alexander. Schoof will now lead a caretaker government until new elections, expected months later in the year.
Despite his role in the government's collapse, Wilders remained defiant. "One day I will be Prime Minister," he said on Tuesday, a statement he has repeated multiple times.
However, potential coalition partners in the future may be more cautious. On Tuesday, NSC's Van Vroonhoven said that, if it were up to her, the NSC would not enter into another coalition with Wilders' party.
- Dutch
- Govt
- Collapses
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
