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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dutch government collapses after far-right leader quits coalition
The Dutch government has collapsed after Geert Wilders withdrew his far-right party from the governing coalition following a row over migration. Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed he was stepping down on Tuesday and offered the resignation of the cabinet to King Willem-Alexander. In televised remarks following an emergency cabinet meeting, Schoof said Wilders' decision to withdraw the support of his PVV party was "irresponsible and unnecessary". "As far as I'm concerned, this shouldn't have happened," he added. The governing coalition was in place for less than one year. The row which led to its collapse came after Wilders pushed for 10 additional asylum measures, including a freeze on applications, halting the construction of reception centres and limiting family reunification. Schoof had made a last-minute appeal to coalition party leaders on Tuesday morning, but the meeting lasted just one minute before Wilders walked out, ending the coalition. "No signature for our asylum plans. PVV leaves the coalition," said Wilders on X. There was shock and anger among political leaders, many of whom pointed out that several of Wilders' demands were similar to policies already in the coalition agreement, and that they would not stand in the PVV's way to implement them. Many of the additional proposals put forward by Wilders had been dismissed during coalition talks because of legal concerns. Wilders' decision has put an end to an uneasy governing coalition which was born in July 2024 after months of political wrangling following elections the previous year. His anti-immigration, far-right PVV was the largest party. The other members were the conservative-liberal VVD, the Farmers' Citizen Movement (BBB) and the centrist New Social Contract. Geert Wilders: Who is he and what does he want? From the start the coalition seemed a marriage of convenience, characterised by infighting and appeared to struggle to push through any of policies it had proudly promoted. Following its collapse, Wilders' former coalition partners accused him of engineering the crisis. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz said the move was "super irresponsible", adding: "This wasn't about asylum at all." "I think Wilders is betraying the Netherlands," said deputy Prime Minister Mona Keijzer from the BBB. But Wilders appears to feel emboldened. On Tuesday he told reporters that he intended to become prime minister of the Netherlands "and ensure that the PVV becomes bigger than ever in the next elections". Sandra Phlippen, the chief economist for ABN AMRO bank, said the immediate economic impact of the cabinet's collapse appeared minimal because during its 11 months in office the government had "barely made any concrete plans". Polls show the far right and Green-Left parties are neck-and-neck, with migration and cost-of-living issues fuelling political volatility across Europe. Wilders wanted the government to collapse as the support for his Freedom Party continues to drop in the polls, according to Armida van Rij, the Head of the Europe Programme at Chatham House. With the Nato summit due to be held in the Hague at the end of the month, Schoof's ministers will seek to remain in power in a caretaker capacity until a date is set for the Netherlands to return to the polls - likely in the autumn, according to Dutch media. In the Dutch political system, becoming prime minister requires forming a majority coalition in the 150-seat parliament. Even if Wilders again surpasses the political pundits expectations, his decision to collapse the government is being seen as reckless - and perceptions he is putting personal ambition above national stability could further complicate his ability to form alliances after the next election. The parties that were reluctant or refused to go into government with Wilders after the last election are likely to find that kind of partnership even less attractive now. In addition, by toppling the coalition over the issue of asylum, it is likely Wilders will put it at the centre of his upcoming election campaign. However, given that his party had been responsible for asylum and immigration for almost a year, there are no guarantees that such a gamble will pay off. After six months, Dutch parties reach government deal Geert Wilders: Who is he and what does he want? Wilders' Dutch victory sends tremors around Europe
Channel 4
3 days ago
- Business
- Channel 4
Dutch government collapses after far-right walkout
The Dutch coalition government has collapsed after veteran far-right leader, Geert Wilders, ordered his ministers to quit their posts this morning. The remaining three parties in the coalition decided that they cannot continue without a majority in parliament. Prime Minister Dick Schoof is expected to stay on as caretaker PM after tendering his resignation. An election is likely to be held after the summer. The far-right Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) came first in the last election held in November 2023. Nonetheless, including the party in government for the first time was controversial. After months of negotiations, a four-way coalition saw the PVV take five ministerial positions, but party leader Geert Wilders was frozen out of a job. He has been a vocal opponent of the government from the sidelines ever since. Last week he issued an ultimatum, demanding the government adopt stringent new anti-migrant policies or he would pull the plug. The coalition agreement already included a tough migration line. And some of Wilders' suggestions such as the idea of using the army to stop migrants at the border were dismissed as illegal under Dutch and EU law. This morning, in a meeting which reportedly lasted around 60 seconds, Wilders confirmed to the other parties in the government that the PVV would quit. Geert Wilders has made no secret of his wish to become Prime Minister and he is expected to make immigration a major theme of his campaign. The remaining governing parties could have chosen to continue as a minority administration and avoid an election, but are unlikely to do so. They know that Wilders risks a backlash from the public for causing the government to fall. Prime Minister Schoof called it an 'unnecessary and irresponsible' move. 'We are facing major challenges nationally and internationally, and more than ever, decisiveness is required for the safety of our resilience and the economy', Schoof said in a hastily arranged press conference this afternoon. The centre-right VVD said Wilders had chosen ''his own ego and his own interests' over those of the country. Polls suggest that support for Wilders has fallen 10 points from the highs the PVV enjoyed a year ago. The party is now polling neck and neck with both its former bedfellows on the right, and with the Green-Left opposition. Critics say that the government has achieved little in its 11 months in office. The leader of the Green-Left, former European Commissioner, Frans Timmermans, told the Dutch public broadcaster NOS earlier, there is an urgency for change. 'We have had enough of this standstill and that is not helping our country. There is war in Europe and people are very worried about their future. That requires leadership, solidarity and fair sharing.' The collapse of the government – the third shortest in recent times – is an embarrassment for Dutch politics. The Netherlands is due to host a major Nato summit later this month with Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer among the leaders due to arrive in The Hague on 24 June. Dutch consider sending failed asylum seekers from Africa to Uganda German far right ride Trump wave ahead of election Another far-right winner in a European election: who is Călin Georgescu?
