Latest news with #Qurans
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dutch Government Collapses After Right-Wing Party Exits
Leader of far-right party PVV, Geert Wilders, speaks to the media after he leaves the Dutch government coalition in The Hague, June 3. Credit - Robin van Lonkhuijsen—ANP/Getty Images The Dutch government has collapsed after Geert Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) withdrew from the ruling coalition, leaving the administration without a parliamentary majority and plunging the Netherlands into political uncertainty. Prime Minister Dick Schoof, an independent who took office last July, has resigned from his role in the wake of the collapse. The government's fall after less than a year in power is expected to trigger snap elections, although experts say a vote before October is unlikely and the process of forming a new government could take months. Without PVV's 37 seats in the House of Representatives, the coalition government now only has 51 seats out of 150. Wilders' party won the previous general election in November 2023 in a shock result, signaling a significant shift to the right in the Netherlands that has been echoed in other elections across Europe over the last year, including in Germany, France, and the European Parliament. Wilders, 61, is one of the most prominent and polarizing figures in Dutch politics. Originally from Venlo in the south of the Netherlands, Wilders is a seasoned politician, first joining the field in 1990 as an assistant to Frits Bolkestein, a centre-right politician and then-leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), before securing his first elected position in 1997 as a VVD city councillor in Utrecht. He was elected to the House of Representatives a year later, and has gone on to become the longest serving lawmaker in Dutch politics. In 2004, he left the VVD and formed his own party, later renamed PVV, which he currently leads. Anti-immigration policy is at the top of Wilders' agenda. His manifesto during the 2023 general election included a ban on all mosques, Islamic schools, the use of Qurans, and anyone wearing a Hijab entering government buildings in the Netherlands. The manifesto also said the PVV wants to reduce non-Western immigration and implement a 'general asylum freeze.' Wilders' speeches have been marked by hardline anti-immigrant and anti-Islam rhetoric as well: In late 2016, a panel of judges found him guilty of inciting discrimination against Dutch Moroccans over comments he made in a post-election address in 2014; months later, ahead of parliamentary elections in 2017, Wilders described some Moroccans in the Netherlands as 'scum.' As of January 2024, just under 3 million people in the Netherlands were born abroad, 176,000 thousand of whom were born in Morocco. One or both of another 250,000 residents' parents were also born in Morocco. Wilders has been calling for the Dutch government to implement his party's 10-point plan, which includes slashing migration, turning away asylum seekers, and returning thousands of Syrians back to their home country. He has also been calling for changes to the 'Main Outline Agreement' signed when the government coalition formed last year. On Tuesday morning, after walking out of a meeting of coalition party leaders, Wilders said in a post on X: 'No signature for our asylum plans. No changes to the Main Outline Agreement. PVV leaves the coalition.' Wilders' announcement that his PVV party will be leaving the coalition means that any party members holding ministerial positions in the cabinet will leave, while remaining ministers from three other parties will continue as part of a caretaker cabinet. After Prime Minister Schoof's resignation on Tuesday, a general election is likely to be called as the current government will struggle to function with a minority in the House of Representatives. The ruling coalition comprised four parties: PVV (37 seats), VVD (24 seats), NSC (20 seats), and BBB (7 seats), which together held 88 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives. With PVV's withdrawal, the coalition loses its majority, retaining only 51 seats. Based on previous election timeframes, Reuters reported that an election before October is unlikely, and forming a new government in the meantime could take months due to the country's fractured politics. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius, whose party formed part of the government coalition, called for elections 'as soon as possible' in a post on X, adding that the Netherlands needs a strong cabinet to 'continue to deliver on the right-wing policies that the voters voted for.' Earlier on Tuesday, Yesilgöz-Zegerius said in a separate post: 'Wilders is putting his own interests above the interests of our country by walking away … Everything that could be done, we were already going to do. Everything we had already agreed upon.' Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
3 days ago
- Business
- Time Magazine
Dutch Government Collapses After Right-Wing Leader Wilders Walks Out
The Dutch government has collapsed after Geert Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) withdrew from the ruling coalition, leaving the administration without a parliamentary majority and plunging the Netherlands into political uncertainty. Prime Minister Dick Schoof, an independent who took office last July, has resigned from his role in the wake of the collapse. The government's fall after less than a year in power is expected to trigger snap elections, although experts say a vote before October is unlikely and the process of forming a new government could take months. Without PVV's 37 seats in the House of Representatives, the coalition government now only has 51 seats out of 150. Wilders' party won the previous general election in November 2023 in a shock result, signaling a significant shift to the right in the Netherlands that has been echoed in other elections across Europe over the last year, including in Germany, France, and the European Parliament. Who is Geert Wilders? Wilders, 61, is one of the most prominent and polarizing figures in Dutch politics. Originally from Venlo in the south of the Netherlands, Wilders is a seasoned politician, first joining the field in 1990 as an assistant to Frits Bolkestein, a centre-right politician and then-leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), before securing his first elected position in 1997 as a VVD city councillor in Utrecht. He was elected to the House of Representatives a year later, and has gone on to become the longest serving lawmaker in Dutch politics. In 2004, he left the VVD and formed his own party, later renamed PVV, which he currently leads. Anti-immigration policy is at the top of Wilders' agenda. His manifesto during the 2023 general election included a ban on all mosques, Islamic schools, the use of Qurans, and anyone wearing a Hijab entering government buildings in the Netherlands. The manifesto also said the PVV wants to reduce non-Western immigration and implement a 'general asylum freeze.' Wilders' speeches have been marked by hardline anti-immigrant and anti-Islam rhetoric as well: In late 2016, a panel of judges found him guilty of inciting discrimination against Dutch Moroccans over comments he made in a post-election address in 2014; months later, ahead of parliamentary elections in 2017, Wilders described some Moroccans in the Netherlands as 'scum.' As of January 2024, just under 3 million people in the Netherlands were born abroad, 176,000 thousand of whom were born in Morocco. One or both of another 250,000 residents ' parents were also born in Morocco. Wilders has been calling for the Dutch government to implement his party's 10-point plan, which includes slashing migration, turning away asylum seekers, and returning thousands of Syrians back to their home country. He has also been calling for changes to the 'Main Outline Agreement' signed when the government coalition formed last year. On Tuesday morning, after walking out of a meeting of coalition party leaders, Wilders said in a post on X: 'No signature for our asylum plans. No changes to the Main Outline Agreement. PVV leaves the coalition.' What could happen next? Wilders' announcement that his PVV party will be leaving the coalition means that any party members holding ministerial positions in the cabinet will leave, while remaining ministers from three other parties will continue as part of a caretaker cabinet. After Prime Minister Schoof's resignation on Tuesday, a general election is likely to be called as the current government will struggle to function with a minority in the House of Representatives. The ruling coalition comprised four parties: PVV (37 seats), VVD (24 seats), NSC (20 seats), and BBB (7 seats), which together held 88 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives. With PVV's withdrawal, the coalition loses its majority, retaining only 51 seats. Based on previous election timeframes, Reuters reported that an election before October is unlikely, and forming a new government in the meantime could take months due to the country's fractured politics. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius, whose party formed part of the government coalition, called for elections 'as soon as possible' in a post on X, adding that the Netherlands needs a strong cabinet to 'continue to deliver on the right-wing policies that the voters voted for.' Earlier on Tuesday, Yesilgöz-Zegerius said in a separate post: 'Wilders is putting his own interests above the interests of our country by walking away … Everything that could be done, we were already going to do. Everything we had already agreed upon.'
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Geert Wilders Pulls Plug on Coalition to Collapse Dutch Government
Leader of the Dutch far-right Party For Freedom (PVV) Geert Wilders resigned on Tuesday morning, leading to a European political crisis. This resignation by the leader of the Dutch government's largest political party has led to the collapse of said coalition government and calls for snap elections in near future. Geert Wilders is a far-right populist politician who has been criticized repeatedly for racist and xenophobic statements. In 2016, he was found guilty of discrimination against the Moroccan immigrant community in a rally. Political experts have meanwhile reported him to be a NATO sceptic and anti-migration. Wilders's party is also known for calling for 'no Islamic schools, Qurans and Mosques.' The far-right in the Netherlands has grown consistently over the past decade, paving the way for Wilders's party winning the most seats during the 2023 parliamentary election. This resulted in a prolonged period of coalition negotiations, eventually leading to a new government in July 2024. The coalition was ultimately led by civil servant Dick Schoof, as other parties refused to accept a Wilders-led government, forcing him into the political margins. Tense cohabitation at the top The relationship between Geert Wilders, leader of the largest party, and Dick Schoof, leader of the coalition, was tense from the start. Although officially a member of the government, Wilders had been criticizing the government continuously on elements of policy like the continued support for Ukraine. Wilders eventually made an ultimatum to the government, stating that if the Prime Minister and other members of the coalition, which includes several parties, didn't accept the proposals on asylum migration, he and his party would resign from the government. 'Voters signed up for the toughest asylum policy and not the downfall of the Netherlands,' he fumed. Wilders then proposed his 10-point plan which parties were supposed to debate on Tuesday, despite not expecting much agreement. The 10 points include sealing all borders with military patrols, rejecting all asylum seekers, suspending family reunification for refugees, and deporting Syrians on temporary Visas as he claimed Syria is now safe. Wilders on Tuesday morning informed the prime minister that he was resigning and that his party would be withdrawing from the coalition. He then gave a speech at The Hague following a meeting with coalition leaders. The far-right politician then made an announcement on social media, explaining his reasons for resigning. This brought instability to the four-party coalition. An 'unnecessary and irresponsible decision' The resignation led to strong condemnation of other coalition leaders, including Dilan Yesilogoz, the leader of the Freedom and Democracy Party, former Prime Minister Mark Rutte's old party. ' Wilders is putting his own interests above those of the country,' Yesilogoz lamented. Dick Schoof agreed, arguing that the far-right leader's decision was 'unnecessary and irresponsible.' But Schoof admitted that this left the government position untenable. Schoof presented the resignation of the PVV ministers to King Wilhem-Alexander. But he stated that his government would resign as he realized that with only 51 out of 150 seats the government couldn't control the parliament. But Schoof stated that his government would remain in place until elections are called in the near future. With the resignation of Wilders, the Netherlands has to call for a snap election to be held in the near future. Polls predict that these elections will lead to large gains from centre-based parties and the Labor-Green alliance is likely to do well in the next election. Yet, despite the fact that the PVV is predicted to lose some support, many expect it to still win the highest number of seats. This means that the Netherlands is entering a period of great political uncertainty. Tags: dutch governmentDutch politician Geert WildersGeert Wilders
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Dutch government collapses as Wilders' far-right party leaves coalition
CNN — The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) is leaving the Netherlands' government over its policy for asylum-seekers, its leader Geert Wilders said on Tuesday, toppling the governing coalition. 'I signed up for the strictest asylum policy, not for the downfall of the Netherlands,' Wilders told reporters Tuesday morning. '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. Prime Minister Dick Schoof called the decision 'unnecessary and irresponsible.' But speaking with reporters after a Tuesday afternoon cabinet meeting, he offered few details on his conversations with Wilders. He said that without the PVV's support, it was impossible for the government to carry on, and that he would remain in office leading a caretaker government until a new coalition takes over. Opposition leaders have called for immediate elections. Polls suggest that, were elections to be 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. But that's no guarantee that it would be able to enter a new government. Dutch politics features a constellation of parties, none of which has ever been able to command a majority of Dutch votes. Polls suggest that both center-right and center-left parties would gain from new elections. Wilders' PVV was the clear winner of a November 2023 election. But a coalition accord struck after months of haggling dictated that, while his party would join the government, he would remain on the sidelines, in parliament. Wilders has a long history of anti-Islam and anti-immigrant rhetoric, He was convicted of discrimination after insulting Moroccan immigrants at a 2014 campaign rally, and his party calls for 'no Islamic schools, Qurans, and mosques.' Wilders 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 centers, 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.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dutch government collapses as Wilders' far-right party leaves coalition
The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) is leaving the Netherlands' government over its policy for asylum-seekers, its leader Geert Wilders said on Tuesday, toppling the governing coalition. 'I signed up for the strictest asylum policy, not for the downfall of the Netherlands,' Wilders told reporters Tuesday morning. 'And our responsibility for this cabinet therefore ends here.' The collapse of the governing coalition, the most right-leaning in Dutch history, means that the country will likely face new elections in the coming months. Wilders' PVV was the clear winner of a November 2023 election. But a coalition accord struck after months of haggling dictated that, while his party would join the government, he would remain on the sidelines, in parliament. The country's prime minister, Dick Schoof, who has clashed with Wilders over policy, has not yet commented on the PVV's withdrawal of support. Wilders has a long history of anti-Islam and anti-immigrant rhetoric, He was convicted of discrimination after insulting Moroccan immigrants at a 2014 campaign rally, and his party calls for 'no Islamic schools, Qurans, and mosques.' Wilders 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 centers, 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.'
