Dutch govt in disarray as far right party quits coalition
Amsterdam, June 3 (UNI) The Dutch government is facing a political crisis after Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), announced his party's withdrawal from the coalition on Tuesday, owing to a lack of agreement on asylum policy in Netherlands.
The move could mark the end of the current government, observers said.
'I signed up for the strictest asylum policy, not for the downfall of the Netherlands,' Wilders told reporters Tuesday morning, reports CNN. 'And our responsibility for this cabinet therefore ends here.'
Wilders' decision to withdraw support for the most right-leaning government in Dutch history has plunged the country's politics into chaos. It leaves the government, led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, with just 51 out of 150 seats in parliament.
Opposition leaders have called for immediate elections. Schoof, who has clashed with Wilders over policy, has not yet commented.
Current opinion polls suggest if elections were held today, the PVV would lose seats but remain the largest party, just ahead of the center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.
Although Wilders' departure has thrown the coalition into disarray, leaders of other coalition parties have not yet ruled out continuing with a minority government. However, that is not a guarantee for the continuation of the current govt either, as Dutch politics features a constellation of parties with different ideologies, and none of them have ever been able to command a majority of Dutch votes.
New Social Contract (NSC) party leader Nicolien Van Vroonhoven said she is open to the idea, noting, "It is not the easiest way to do politics, but it is a way to ensure the entire House is involved."
Dilan Yesilgoz, leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), said that VVD ministers will not resign immediately. She expressed willingness to explore the possibility of a temporary minority cabinet in cooperation with NSC and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB).
"All options are now being explored," Yesilgoz told Dutch broadcaster NOS.
She emphasised that if the coalition continues, it would operate as a caretaker cabinet until new elections are held. "We must carefully examine what is possible within the Dutch system," she added. "It's important that we as VVD do not walk away from our responsibility."
Wilders, who is known for his strong stance on asylum and his anti-Islam position, last week held a rare, formal press conference to present the government with an ultimatum for hardening the country's asylum policy – despite the fact that the minister for asylum and migration is a member of his own party.
'The PVV promised voters the strictest asylum policy ever, aiming to make it the strictest in all of Europe,' Wilders said Tuesday. 'We proposed a plan to close the borders to asylum seekers, to stop them, to send them away. To stop building asylum-seeker centres, to close them.'
But the coalition, he said, refused his proposals.
'I could do nothing other than say that we are now withdrawing our support for this cabinet.'
"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.
An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers, the key decision-making body comprising all government ministers, including the prime minister, is scheduled on Tuesday afternoon in The Hague. PVV ministers are also expected to attend.
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