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an hour ago
- Politics
- First Post
Netherlands snap election set for October 29 after Wilders quits coalition
'We have officially set the election date: the… elections will take place on Wednesday 29 October 2025,' Interior Minister Judith Uitermark wrote on X read more Far-right lawmaker Geert Wilders talks to the media after pulling his party out of the four-party Dutch coalition in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. AP File Days after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his Freedom Party out of the Dutch government after his coalition partners rejected his latest proposals to curb immigration, the Netherlands is set to hold a general election on October 29. 'We have officially set the election date: the… elections will take place on Wednesday 29 October 2025,' Interior Minister Judith Uitermark wrote on X. 'In the coming period, I will work with the municipalities and other stakeholders to prepare so that this important day in our democracy goes smoothly,' added the minister. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Polls show a tight race, with Wilders' PVV running neck-and-neck with the Left-Green alliance led by former EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans. The liberal VVD party trails closely, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election. Wilders had shocked the Dutch political landscape by winning 37 out of 150 seats in the November 2023 elections. But in a fragmented political system where no single party can command a majority, he formed a four-party coalition with the VVD, the farmers' BBB party, and the centrist NSC. To secure the deal, Wilders gave up his bid for the premiership — but internal tensions, particularly over immigration, eventually brought the fragile coalition down. With inputs from agencies
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dutch election set for Oct 29 after government falls
The Netherlands will hold snap elections on October 29, authorities announced Friday, after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled out of the ruling coalition, bringing down the government and sparking political chaos. "We have officially set the election date: the... elections will take place on Wednesday 29 October 2025," Interior Minister Judith Uitermark wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "In the coming period, I will work with the municipalities and other stakeholders to prepare so that this important day in our democracy goes smoothly," added the minister. The vote in the European Union's fifth-largest economy and major global exporter will be closely watched in Europe, where far-right parties have made significant electoral gains. Polls suggest Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) is running neck-and-neck with the Left/Green group of former European Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans. The liberal VVD party stands just behind in the polls, suggesting the election will be closely fought. The election was prompted by the dramatic withdrawal of Wilders and the PVV from a shaky ruling coalition in a row over immigration policy. Wilders grumbled that the Netherlands was not fast enough to implement the "strictest-ever" immigration policy agreed by the four-way coalition -- and pulled out. He had stunned the political establishment in the Netherlands by winning November 2023 elections by a significant margin -- clinching 37 seats out of the 150 in parliament. The fractured nature of Dutch politics means no one party is ever strong enough to win 76 seats and govern with an absolute majority. Wilders persuaded the VVD, the BBB farmers party, and the anti-corruption NSC party to govern with him -- but the price was to give up his ambition to become prime minister. - Far-right rise - The PVV has apparently lost some support since that election, with recent surveys suggesting they would win around 28 to 30 seats. But the issue after the coming election will be: who will enter into a coalition with Wilders and the PVV? There was widespread fury with the far-right leader for bringing down the government over what many saw as an artificial crisis. Far-right parties have been on the rise across Europe. In May, the far-right Chega ("Enough") party took second place in Portugal's elections. In Germany, the anti-immigration far-right AfD doubled its score in legislative elections in February, reaching 20.8 percent. And in Britain, polls show the anti-immigration, hard-right Reform UK party of Nigel Farage is making significant gains following a breakthrough in local elections. ric/jhb
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dutch government collapses as far-right leader pulls party out of coalition
The Dutch government has collapsed after the far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his party out of the ruling coalition in a row over immigration and asylum policy. The prime minister, Dick Schoof, on Tuesday handed in his resignation and that of his 11-month-old cabinet to King Willem-Alexander. Remaining ministers will stay on in a caretaker capacity until new elections, most likely in October. 'We have decided that there is now insufficient support for this government,' Schoof told reporters in The Hague after an emergency cabinet meeting, adding that he considered Wilders's decision 'irresponsible and unnecessary'. Wilders, whose populist, anti-Islam Freedom party (PVV) finished as the largest in parliament in the last election, said he would 'fight the coming elections to make the PVV even stronger' and 'with the aim of becoming prime minister next time'. The far-right leader had said earlier on Tuesday that all his party's ministers would quit the government after the other three partners in the four-party coalition had rejected his radical proposals on immigration. 'I signed up for the toughest asylum policy, not the downfall of the Netherlands,' he said. He had warned last week that if his plans were not adopted, the PVV – the largest party in parliament, with 37 seats – would be 'out of the cabinet'. Wilders' announcement followed a brief meeting of the already fractious and fragile coalition – the first to include the PVV – which consistently struggled to reach a consensus after being sworn in last July. The coalition between the PVV, the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), centrist New Social Contract (NSC) and liberal-conservative VVD took nearly six months to form and was repeatedly undermined by Wilders, who was not a cabinet member. He wanted it to adopt a 10-point plan aimed at radically reducing immigration and asylum, including enlisting the army to secure and patrol the borders, turning all asylum seekers back at the border and closing refugee accommodation facilities. Wilders also proposed sending all Syrian refugees home, suspending EU asylum quotas and banning family members joining refugees already in the country. Legal experts have said several of the proposals breached European human rights laws or the UN refugee convention, to which the Netherlands is a signatory. Remaining coalition partners reacted with anger and disbelief to Wilders's decision. Dilan Yeşilgöz, the VVD leader, said Schoof had appealed to the four party leaders to act responsibly before Tuesday's meeting. 'He said we are facing enormous international challenges, we have a war on our continent, an economic crisis may be coming our way,' Yeşilgöz said, adding that she was 'shocked' by Wilders's decision, which she called 'super-irresponsible'. Yeşilgöz added of the far-right leader: 'We had a rightwing majority and he lets it all go, for his ego. He's just doing what he wants … This is making us look like fools. He's running away, at a time of unprecedented uncertainty.' Caroline van der Plas of the BBB said she was extremely angry, adding: 'He is not putting the Netherlands first, he is putting Geert Wilders first.' Nicolien van Vroonhoven of the NSC said the move was 'incredible and incomprehensible'. The remaining coalition members could in theory have tried to stay on as a minority administration, but most favoured snap elections. 'The country needs clarity and a strong government,' Yeşilgöz said. 'Elections must be held soon.' Frans Timmermans, the leader of the main opposition Labour/Green alliance, also said fresh elections were the only serious option. 'I see no other way to form a stable government,' Timmermans, a former European Commission vice-president, said. Recent polls show the PVV has lost significant voter support since its shock election win in November 2023. The party is polling at about 20%, roughly level with the Labour/Green alliance that is currently the second-largest in parliament. It is not the first time that Wilders – a polemicist who has spent years in opposition, has a conviction for discrimination and managed to strike a coalition deal only after abandoning his effort to become prime minister – has turned his back on power. In 2010 he pledged support to a minority government led by the former prime minister Mark Rutte, but walked away from the confidence and supply arrangement less than two years later after a dispute over government austerity measures. 'You know that if you work with Wilders in a coalition … it won't go well,' Rob Jetten, the leader of the opposition liberal D66 party, told the public broadcaster NOS. 'If it hadn't happened today, it would have happened sometime in the next few weeks.' Jetten said the government had been unable to take many decisions because it was prey to too many 'rows and crises', adding that the other three coalition parties had been taken 'hostage' by Wilders.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Who is Geert Wilders? The ‘Right Wing Messiah' quits Dutch government over immigration
The Netherlands has been thrown into political upheaval after Geert Wilders, the far-right populist leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), pulled his party out of the ruling coalition over disagreements on immigration and asylum policy. This decision, made less than a year after the government was formed, forced Prime Minister Dick Schoof to resign and triggered the collapse of the most right wing administration in Dutch history. Wilders, often dubbed the 'Dutch Trump,' cited his unyielding stance on asylum as the reason behind his party's withdrawal, marking another dramatic turn in his long and polarising political career. Geert Wilders: A polarising and popular figure in Netherlands Geert Wilders, 61, is one of the most recognised figures in European far right politics. He left the liberal conservative VVD in 2004 to establish the PVV, shaping it into a platform for his anti-Islam, anti-immigration beliefs. Often controversial, Wilders has repeatedly called for banning the Quran and Islamic schools and has openly criticised Dutch multiculturalism. His provocative rhetoric and polarising stances have kept him at the forefront of Dutch politics for two decades, despite multiple legal and political setbacks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em São Paulo (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo Shocking win of 2023 that changed everything In November 2023, Wilders led the PVV to a surprise victory, securing 37 seats and becoming the largest party in parliament. Although coalition partners blocked him from becoming prime minister due to his extreme views, Wilders held significant influence over policy from behind the scenes. The resulting government, a fragile coalition between the PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB, was always tense, and the immigration dispute only widened existing cracks. The immigration dispute that broke the government At the heart of the collapse was Wilders' hardline 10-point asylum plan. His proposals included deporting all Syrian refugees, militarising borders, suspending EU asylum quotas and banning refugee family reunification. Legal experts argued that many of these violated international human rights agreements. When his coalition partners rejected the proposals, Wilders announced that all PVV ministers would resign, triggering the government's collapse. Fury from coalition partners Coalition leaders condemned Wilders' actions as reckless and self-serving. Dilan Yeşilgöz of the VVD called his withdrawal 'super irresponsible,' while other leaders accused him of prioritising personal power over national stability. Prime Minister Dick Schoof described the move as 'unnecessary and irresponsible,' lamenting the breakdown of consensus during a time of global instability. What happens next for the Netherlands? With the PVV's exit, the coalition lost its majority and the Dutch government now operates in caretaker mode. New elections are expected in the autumn. The crisis has also delayed major international decisions, including preparations for a NATO summit and defence budget commitments. Meanwhile, Wilders has vowed to return even stronger in the next election, renewing ambitions to lead the country on his own terms.
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Dutch govt on brink of collapse as Wilders' far-right party quits
Wilders' PVV exits coalition, likely triggering new election THE HAGUE: Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his PVV party out of the governing coalition on Tuesday amid a row over tougher migration policies, in a move that will likely lead to new elections. A possible snap election would come as the hard right is growing in Europe, with anger over migration and the cost of living at risk of eroding Europe's unity over how to deal with Russia and with US President Donald Trump. Wilders said his party was pulling out because the other three coalition partners were not willing to support his ideas on asylum and immigration. 'No signature under our asylum plans. The PVV leaves the coalition,' Wilders said in a post on X. Wilders said he had informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof that all ministers from his PVV party would quit. Schoof has not yet reacted publicly, but was expected to do so after an emergency cabinet meeting, which started in the early afternoon. Wilders' surprise move ends a fragile coalition which has struggled to reach consensus since its installation last July. The prospect of a new election adds to political uncertainty in the Netherlands. It would likely delay a decision on boosting defense spending to meet new NATO targets, and would leave the Netherlands with only a caretaker government when it receives world leaders for a NATO summit later this month. Disbelief Wilders' coalition partners responded with disbelief and anger to his decision. 'This is irresponsible, this is no moment to walk away,' finance minister, Eelco Heinen, of the conservative VVD party, told reporters before he entered the crisis cabinet meeting. The others parties now have the option to try and proceed as a minority government, though they are not expected to. Opposition parties on Tuesday called for new elections. 'I see no other way to form a stable government,' said Frans Timmermans, the leader of the Labour/Green combination. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz said she did not want to exclude any options. Junior coalition party BBB leader Caroline van der Plas said: 'This coalition is done. But maybe other parties see a way forward.' 'The most obvious outcome will be new elections after the summer, end of October, November,' said political scientist Joep van Lit at Radboud University in Nijmegen. The question is whether voters will see this as a failure by Wilders' PVV party to obtain what they wanted on immigration, or whether they will consider the party was obstructed by others and give them a bigger mandate, van Lit said. Divided Voters were divided over what they hope would come next. A new election seemed logical, said Amsterdam resident Michelle ten Berge, who hoped 'that with the new elections we will choose ... a government that's more moderate.' But florist Ron van den Hoogenband, speaking in The Hague, hoped Wilders would emerge the winner and control parliament 'so he can do like Trump is doing and other European countries where the extreme right is taking over.' Wilders won the most recent election in November 2023 with a surprisingly wide margin of 23% of the vote. Polls put his party at around 20 percent of the vote now, on par roughly with the Labor/Green combination that is currently the second-largest in parliament. Wilders had last week demanded immediate support for a ten-point plan that included closing the borders for asylum seekers, sending refugees from Syria back to their home country and shutting down asylum shelters. Other ideas were to expel migrants convicted of serious crimes and to boost 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 in 2023, triggering the election won by Wilders. Wilders, who was convicted for discrimination against Moroccans in 2016, was not part of the latest government himself as its leader or a minister. He only managed to strike a coalition deal with three other conservative parties last year after he failed to garner coalition support to become prime minister. Instead, the cabinet was led by the independent and unelected Schoof, a career bureaucrat. - Reuters
