Latest news with #Wilders
New Statesman
42 minutes ago
- Politics
- New Statesman
Europe's far-right paradox
Photo by Diego Radames/Anadolu via Getty Images A toxic dynamic centred on refugee policy is creating political instability across much of Europe. As established mainstream parties struggle to figure out how best to deal with the far right, they are succumbing to pressure to get tougher on asylum seekers and thus mainstreaming and normalising far-right rhetoric and policy. But whether they exclude those movements from government or seek to cooperate with them, it is becoming increasingly difficult to form stable governments in Europe. On 3 June, the Dutch government collapsed when Geert Wilders withdrew his far-right Freedom Party (PVV) from the four-party coalition just over a year after it was formed. After the election in November 2023 in which the PVV emerged as the biggest party in the Dutch parliament, it took six months to form a government that included the centre-right People's Party (VVD) and was led by Dick Schoof, a career civil servant. New elections will now be held, though the date has not yet been set. After the 2023 election, Wilders had promised 'the toughest asylum policy ever' and made sure that his party controlled the asylum ministry so that it could implement his radical ten-point plan. This included deploying the army at Dutch borders, turning away all new asylum seekers, deporting Syrians whose claims were already being processed, and rejecting EU quotas. But on 3 June, he declared that the new government had not gone far enough or quickly enough and pulled out. In the Netherlands, mainstream parties have long cooperated with the far right. As far back as 2010, the then-VVD leader Mark Rutte led a minority government that had a confidence-and-supply agreement with the PVV. This week's events illustrate the fragility of that approach. Wilders hopes his party will do even better in the new elections and that he will be able to become prime minister himself. Centrists, meanwhile, hope his move will backfire and that voters will punish him for his unreasonableness. In Germany, meanwhile, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) became the second biggest party in the Bundestag after the election that took place in February, the mainstream parties have taken a different approach. Cooperation with the far right is much more of a taboo in Germany than in the Netherlands – there is a consensus around the idea that what are often called 'democratic forces' must maintain a Brandmauer, or firewall, to keep the far right away from power. The new chancellor Friedrich Merz has actually gone quite far in cooperating with them, by German standards at least. During the election campaign last year, he cooperated with the AfD to push an 'influx limitation bill' through the Bundestag. But as controversial as this was – it alienated the Social Democrats (SPD), with whom Merz knew he would likely have to cooperate after the election – it falls a long way short of what has happened in the Netherlands. It remains politically impossible for Germany's Christian Democrats to form a minority government dependent on AfD votes as Rutte did, let alone actually form a coalition with it. This meant that, after the election, Merz's only option was to form a grand coalition with the Social Democrats. (Some right-wing Christian Democrats, such as the historian Andreas Rödder, are beginning to argue that they need to break the taboo on cooperation with the AfD if only to give themselves other options and thus increase their power in negotiations with the SPD.) Yet despite this different approach, the political situation in Germany is now remarkably similar to that in the Netherlands. Like Wilders, Merz ran on a promise to get even tougher on asylum seekers – he promised a 'de-facto entry ban' that would have violated EU law. For all the obsessive focus on maintaining the Brandmauer, the boundaries between the centrists and the far right on refugee policy have long been blurred – in fact Wilders argues that Germany is already doing much of what he wants to do. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe However, while Merz and the Social Democrats had settled on a compromise on asylum policy – the coalition agreement promised a 'deportation offensive' but Merz was forced to dilute his promise of an entry ban – it could yet unravel. This week, a Berlin court ruled that it was unlawful for German border guards to push back three Somalis who had crossed the border from Poland and sought to claim asylum in Germany. In response, Merz seemed to suggest that he might be prepared to ignore the ruling. In doing so, Merz is threatening to abandon the compromise he reached with the SPD and, with an eye on the AfD, reverting to the approach he took during the election campaign. The Social Democrats, who have themselves moved to the right on refugee policy but stopped short of rejecting German court rulings and EU law, have insisted that the government must adhere to the rule of law – after all, this, Germany's 'democratic forces' have always insisted, is what differentiates them from 'populist' parties like the AfD. It is unlikely that the coalition will collapse over this issue. But that is itself largely because the Christian Democrats and SPD fear that if there were new elections, as there will now be in the Netherlands, the AfD would do even better than it did in February. The problem, not just in Germany but also elsewhere in Europe, is that incoherent coalitions of centrist parties formed only to keep the far right out of power also tend to strengthen the far right. [See also: Labour's muddled message] Related
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Dutch government collapses after far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
The Dutch government collapsed today, 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 Mr 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," Mr Schoof said after an emergency cabinet meeting triggered by Mr 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 Mr Wilders said he 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 Mr Wilders' failure to turn his proposals into reality, or rather decide that he needs a bigger mandate to get his way, Mr 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 Mr 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 Mr Wilders won the last election in November 2023 with an unexpectedly high 23% of the vote. Opinion polls put his party at around 20% now, roughly on a par with the Labour/Green combination that is currently the second-largest grouping in parliament. Mr 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. Mr 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.
Yahoo
a day 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.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House backs Dutch far-right leader after government falls
The White House offered tacit support to far-right leader Geert Wilders Wednesday after the fall of the Dutch government, saying that the Netherlands faced "serious threats" from migration. US President Donald Trump backed leaders who "protect their sovereignty and national identity", a White House official said when asked for the administration's response to Wilders pulling out of a shaky coalition in a row over immigration policy. Wilders -- who has been dubbed the "Dutch Trump" for his bouffant blond locks and firebrand rhetoric -- is known for his anti-Islam, anti-immigrant and anti-EU message. "The Netherlands, like many countries in Europe, is facing serious threats related to open borders policies and illegal migration. Leaders who fight to put their citizens first and secure their nation's future should be commended," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP. The Trump administration has led an immigration crackdown at home and has pushed European countries to follow its lead. US Vice President JD Vance, for example, voiced support for the far-right ultra-nationalist German AfD party. "President Trump's message to our allies has been clear on this topic," the White House official added. "European leaders should work to protect their sovereignty and national identity by prioritizing strong borders and tackling illegal migration -- just as we are here in the United States." Trump is set to visit the Netherlands, which is now in political crisis mode, later this month for a NATO summit. Wilders's far-right Freedom Party (PVV) won a shock victory in Dutch elections in 2023, but his partners in the shaky four-party coalition government that emerged blocked him from becoming prime minister. On Tuesday, Wilders pulled out of the coalition after complaining that it was too slow to push through a strict new immigration policy -- meaning new elections are likely, which would give him another shot at the top job. The Dutch politician has toned down some of his rhetoric but remains a controversial figure. From calling Moroccans "scum" to holding competitions for cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, Wilders has built a career from his self-appointed mission to stop an "Islamic invasion" of Western Europe. dk/aha
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dutch government in turmoil: What to know
The governing coalition in the Netherlands collapsed Tuesday after Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders withdrew his populist Party for Freedom (PVV)'s ministers — escalating an ongoing dispute over the country's immigration and asylum policies. 'I worked hard for 25 years to establish the PVV and make it a major party, so I'm not standing here as someone who had a good day today,' Wilders told Dutch news outlet GeenStijl in a translated interview late Tuesday. 'But it is the best choice, because I'm here for the Dutch, and I also hope that the Dutch people understand why I did this.' The Netherlands will now have a temporary caretaker government, which is expected to be in place when The Hauge hosts the NATO summit in three weeks. Wilders, 61, has long voiced anti-immigration and particularly anti-Muslim positions. Muslims make up about 5 percent of the nearly 18 million people in the Netherlands. The PVV, which has called for banning the Quran and shuttering mosques, won the largest number of seats in the 150-member Dutch Parliament in a November 2023 snap election amid growing concerns about migration. Wilders, who has called for banning asylum-seekers, cited inaction from other parties on tougher immigration policies for the abrupt withdrawal Tuesday. 'We voted for the PVV by 2.5 million people to achieve the strictest asylum policy ever,' he said in the GeenStijl interview. 'These are measures that are desperately needed and that are definitely not in the government's plans.' Prime Minister Dick Schoof, an independent who has been leading the government for less than a year, called the PVV's withdrawal and ensuing government collapse 'unnecessary and irresponsible' in a statement after Wilders's unexpected announcement. 'For many months the government has worked hard to implement (an agreement), but if one party lacks the will to continue, it isn't possible to keep working together,' Schoof wrote. But Wilders accused the opposing parties of stalling and highlighted asylum approaches in neighboring countries such as Germany that had taken place in the meantime. 'If we had not done this, if we had continued while all our neighboring countries were introducing stricter measures, which would make people come to the Netherlands more … where would you go as an asylum-seeker? You would come to us sooner,' the far-right leader said. 'If we had continued with this, then there would hardly have been anything left of the Netherlands.' He also stressed his message with multiple posts on the social platform X, highlighting crime and his calls for asylum restrictions. 'We had no choice. I promised the voter the strictest asylum policy ever, but that was not granted to you,' he said in one post translated from Dutch. The Dutch government will be run under a restricted 'caretaker administration' for several months until elections can be held for a formal overhaul. Leaders have called for elections to take place as soon as possible, but it's unlikely they will happen before October. Schoof plans to remain in the caretaker government until the elections, he said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to reporters during Tuesday's press briefing that President Trump plans to attend the NATO summit scheduled later this month in The Hague. The formation of a caretaker government and restrictions it faces means the Netherlands won't be able to formally address Trump's calls for other NATO countries to increase their defense spending ahead of the summit. The country currently spends about 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense — well below the 5 percent Trump has advocated for across-the-board. Wilders has been nicknamed the 'Dutch Trump,' and many supporters of the U.S. president have backed his populism and hard-line immigration views. Meanwhile, Trump has been at odds with European allies over Ukraine's future amid its ongoing war with Russia and the Ukrainian government's eyes on joining NATO. Trump also has rankled NATO allies with aggressive suggestions about taking over Greenland and pursuing Canada to become the U.S.'s 51st state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
