Latest news with #DickSchoof
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- General
- Russia Today
Dutch government collapses over immigration dispute
The Dutch government is teetering on the verge of collapse after a dispute over immigration policy led Geert Wilders to withdraw his party from the ruling coalition. Wilders, the leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV), which emerged as the largest party in the 2023 parliamentary elections, announced on Tuesday that the PVV is leaving the four-party coalition government because his partners refused to accept his immigration overhaul. Wilders added that he notified Prime Minister Dick Schoof of the PVV ministers' decision to withdraw from the government. 'No signature under our asylum plans. The PVV leaves the coalition,' he wrote on X on Tuesday. Last week, Wilders released a ten-point plan aimed at drastically reducing migration, intensifying pressure on the four-party coalition to adopt a harder line or face a potential cabinet crisis. 'I signed up for the toughest asylum policy and not the downfall of the Netherlands,' Wilders told reporters, according to Euronews. Wilders had proposed the 'strictest migration policy ever' in the Netherlands, a stance his coalition partners claimed to support. In May 2024, the four ruling parties finalized an agreement that featured 'the strictest asylum admission policy and the most comprehensive migration control package ever.' The proposal called for a halt to asylum applications, the temporary suspension of family reunification for recognized refugees, and the deportation of all Syrians who applied for asylum or are residing in the Netherlands on temporary visas. Wilders also sought the closure of asylum centers. Legal experts have warned that several elements of the plan violate European human rights laws and the UN Refugee Convention, both of which the Netherlands is bound by as a signatory. The Party for Freedom, led by Wilders and known for its proposals to ban the Quran and shut down Islamic schools, secured the most seats in the November 2023 elections, marking a significant shift in the Dutch political landscape. Wilders formed a coalition government with three other right-leaning parties: The center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the populist Farmer Citizen Movement (BBB), and the New Social Contract (NSC). The agreement followed more than six months of negotiations and marked the first time Wilders' party was included in a governing coalition, having previously been excluded by mainstream parties. The four-party coalition holds 88 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, giving it a solid majority.
Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Times
Geert Wilders' asylum protest triggers collapse of Dutch government
The clash between European Union law and populist demands to stop asylum seekers caused the collapse of the Dutch government on Tuesday, triggering early elections. To the shock of even his own ministers, Geert Wilders withdrew his hard-right Party for Freedom (PVV) from the cabinet less than a year after the government was formed, making it one of the most short-lived in the country's history. An ultimatum from the veteran hard-right leader to curb asylum claims and to deport refugees with a criminal record had split the coalition and threatened to put the Netherlands at odds with the EU, illustrating wider European tensions as national governments try to toughen border controls. Emergency talks lasted only ten minutes and failed to resolve the situation. 'No signature for our asylum plans. PVV leaves the coalition,' Wilders, 61, announced on the social media platform X on Tuesday morning. A few hours later, Dick Schoof, the prime minister, a technocrat and former senior civil servant who led the uneasy alliance of mainstream conservatives and populists, handed his resignation to King Willem-Alexander. Elections are expected this autumn. 'As far as I'm concerned, this wasn't necessary,' Schoof said. 'This country has major problems, so decisiveness is required. We have worked hard on the implementation in recent months. But if one party lacks the will, you cannot continue together.' The PVV was the election winner in November 2023 and dominated the coalition. However, support for Wilders was sliding in the opinion polls as the government struggled to enact migration measures that, lawyers warned, would breach EU asylum law. Wilders has repeatedly expressed his anger over the past four months that the coalition, while pledging the 'toughest ever' policy on migration, had failed to deliver. He demanded on Monday that the Netherlands suspend all asylum claims because most of the claimants come from the safe neighbouring countries of Belgium and Germany. He has previously summarised his policy as: 'Close the borders for asylum seekers and family reunifications. No more asylum centres opened. Close them.' His demands have widespread popular support, especially among followers of the coalition parties, and Wilders is gambling that new Dutch elections would give his party, which still leads in the opinion polls, a bigger share of the vote. But he was accused of 'betrayal' by former coalition allies and populists who fear that elections might trigger a swing back towards the centrist, pro-European left. 'I promised the voters the strictest asylum policy ever. But that was blocked,' Wilders said. 'I could do nothing but withdraw support for this cabinet.' Ingrid Coenradie, the PVV security minister, said she was 'certainly not with' Wilders after his 'reprehensible' decision. 'I always had the hope that we could have finished a whole term. That is not possible now because Wilders has decided to pull the plug,' she said. Caroline van der Plas, the leader of the populist, rural BBB party in the coalition, was also furious, accusing Wilders of a reckless 'power play'. After a brief meeting on Tuesday morning, Dilan Yesilgoz, leader of the mainstream conservative VVD, stormed out of Wilders' office. 'He is choosing his own ego and his own interests,' she said. 'I am astonished. He is throwing away the chance of a right-wing policy. This is super-irresponsible.' Schoof, 68, the country's former spy chief who was drafted in as independent prime minister from outside parliament, will stay on as caretaker prime minister alongside ministers from the mainstream, conservative VVD and NSC parties, along with the BBB. 'We can do everything to take the decisions that are necessary,' Schoof said. The political crisis comes as other European countries, such as Germany and Italy, have been hindered by EU asylum policies or human rights law when attempting to limit net migration. In total, 44,055 asylum seekers and their following relatives entered the Netherlands last year, followed by 11,000 in the first four months of this year. Although the figures are far lower than the peaks recorded in 2015 at the height of the Syrian civil war, and more recently in autumn 2023, polling at the weekend showed that 76 per cent of coalition voters, a majority nationally, backed Wilders' demands for migrants or asylum seekers to be expelled if they were convicted of a serious crime. Eighteen months after his shock election win, Wilders's PVV is also leading polls of party support on 31 per cent. But a left-wing coalition led by Frans Timmermans, a former EU commissioner, is now just one point behind. 'We want elections as soon as possible,' said Timmermans on Tuesday. In third place is the VVD, the traditional party of the Dutch government for decades, on 25 per cent, meaning any forthcoming election is likely to be a close battle. The collapse is a major blow to Dutch prestige only three weeks before the Hague is due to host a summit of Nato
CNA
5 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Dutch government collapses after far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
THE HAGUE: The Dutch government collapsed on Tuesday (Jun 3), most likely ushering in a snap election, after anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders quit the right-wing coalition, accusing other parties of failing to back his tougher immigration policies. But Prime Minister Dick Schoof, an independent, accused the political maverick of irresponsibility, and the other coalition parties denied failing to support Wilders, saying they had been awaiting proposals from his PVV party's own migration minister. PVV ministers will quit the cabinet, leaving the others to continue as a caretaker administration until an election unlikely to be held before October. Frustration with migration and the high cost of living is boosting the far right and widening divisions in Europe, just as it needs unity to deal effectively with a hostile Russia and an unpredictable and combative US president in the form of Donald Trump. "I have told party leaders repeatedly in recent days that the collapse of the cabinet would be unnecessary and irresponsible," Schoof said after an emergency cabinet meeting triggered by Wilders' decision. "We are facing major challenges both nationally and internationally that require decisiveness from us," he added, before handing his resignation to King Willem-Alexander. The prospect of a new election is likely to delay a decision on boosting defence spending and means the Netherlands will have only a caretaker government when it hosts a summit of the transatlantic NATO alliance this month. ELECTION MAY BE MONTHS AWAY Wilders said he had had no option but to quit the coalition. "I proposed a plan to close the borders for asylum seekers, to send them away, to shut asylum shelters. I demanded coalition partners sign up to that, which they didn't. That left me no choice but to withdraw my support for this government," he told reporters. "I signed up for the strictest asylum policies, not for the demise of the Netherlands." He said he would lead the PVV into a new election and hoped to be the next prime minister. An election is now likely at the end of October or in November, said political scientist Joep van Lit at Radboud University in Nijmegen. Even then, the fractured political landscape means formation of a new government may take months. It remains to be seen whether right-wing voters will see the turn of events as Wilders' failure to turn his proposals into reality, or rather decide that he needs a bigger mandate to get his way, van Lit said. Simon Otjes, assistant professor in Dutch politics at Leiden University, said the PVV must have calculated that the next election would be seen as a referendum on immigration policy, "because they know they would win that". Amsterdam resident Michelle ten Berge hoped that "with the new election we will choose ... a government that's more moderate". But florist Ron van den Hoogenband, in The Hague, said he expected Wilders to emerge the winner and take control of parliament "so he can do like Trump is doing and other European countries where the extreme right is taking over". IMMIGRATION A DIVISIVE ISSUE Wilders won the last election in November 2023 with an unexpectedly high 23 percent of the vote. Opinion polls put his party at around 20 percent now, roughly on a par with the Labour/Green combination that is currently the second-largest grouping in parliament. Wilders had last week demanded immediate support for a 10-point plan that included closing the borders to asylum seekers, sending back refugees from Syria and shutting down asylum shelters. He also proposed expelling migrants convicted of serious crimes and boosting border controls. Migration has been a divisive issue in Dutch politics for years. The previous government, led by current NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, also collapsed after failing to reach a deal on restricting immigration. Wilders, a provocative politician who was convicted of discrimination against Moroccans in 2016, was not part of the latest government himself. He only managed to strike a coalition deal with three other conservative parties last year after agreeing not to become prime minister.
Saba Yemen
5 hours ago
- General
- Saba Yemen
Dutch Prime Minister announces resignation
The Hague – SABA Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced his resignation following the withdrawal of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) from the governing coalition stating he intends to submit the government's resignation to King Willem-Alexander. During a press conference held Tuesday after an emergency cabinet meeting Schoof stated he concluded he lacked sufficient parliamentary support. Schoof attributed the government collapse to PVV and its leader Geert Wilders describing Wilders' withdrawal decision as "irresponsible" and emphasizing "When one party lacks willingness you cannot move forward together". Earlier reports indicated Wilders withdrew his ministers due to asylum policy disputes. Schoof confirmed government reshuffling is no longer feasible with new elections likely in November. Ministers from the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) New Social Contract (NSC) and Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) will remain in caretaker roles until a new government forms. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Fast Company
6 hours ago
- Business
- Fast Company
What's happening in the Netherlands? Dutch government collapses after far-right party leaves ruling coalition over immigration
Immigration, which has dominated the headlines since in the United States since President Donald Trump kicked off his second term this January, is also making headlines in Europe. On Tuesday in the Netherlands, Prime Minister Dick Schoof stepped down after the leader of the country's far-right party, Geert Wilders, withdrew his party from the ruling coalition over disputes about asylum and immigration, effectively causing the Dutch government's collapse and triggering new snap elections, according to the Guardian. The government collapse comes a few weeks before a major NATO summit in The Hague, and marks the unraveling of a multi-party coalition made up of: Wilders' anti-Islam Freedom party (PVV), the Farmer-Citizens Movement (BBB), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). 'We had agreed that the Netherlands would become the strictest (on immigration) in Europe, but we're trailing somewhere near the bottom,' Wilders said, according to Reuters. 'I intend to become the next prime minister. I am going to make the PVV bigger than ever.' In 2023, Wilders' PVV actually won by a landslide in the general election, but the four major parties that created the coalition picked Dick Schoof as prime minister, leading longtime Prime Minister Mark Rutte, of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, to step down from the post. At that time, the disputes were over immigration, just as they are today. Last Monday, Wilders' PVV announced a 10-point plan to reduce immigration that would effectively slash migration, temporarily halt asylum seekers who were granted refugee status from reuniting with families, and place soldiers at borders to turn away asylum-seekers. At issue are Syrians who are in the Netherlands as a result of the violence in their home country. The question many political analysts are now asking: Is this another example that Europe is shifting toward the right, as seen by Poland's recent election? On Sunday, voters elected conservative nationalist Karol Nawrocki as that country grapples with the E.U.'s second-highest fiscal deficit, and weighs Ukraine's future as a NATO member state.
