In the Netherlands, criticism is mounting against Geert Wilders, who triggered the fall of the government
Far-right leader Geert Wilders slammed the door on the ruling coalition in the Netherlands on Tuesday, June 3, after only 336 days in power. Prime Minister Dick Schoof, a senior civil servant with no party affiliation, announced in the afternoon that he would submit the resignation of his team to King Willem-Alexander. The government will continue to handle day-to-day affairs until a new cabinet is formed, likely after fresh legislative elections that are expected in the fall.
Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) − which had formed a coalition with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD, liberal), New Social Contract (NSC, centrist), and the Farmer – Citizen Movement (BBB) − brought down the government after his three partners refused to endorse his new plan on asylum and migration. The proposal included a series of radical measures: the deployment of the army to monitor and entirely close borders to asylum seekers, a halt to family reunification, the deportation of Syrian exiles back to their country, an end to the construction of reception centers and the swift expulsion of foreign-born offenders – including those born in the Netherlands and holding dual nationality, among other measures.
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