Latest news with #Wilders'
Euronews
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Dutch lawmakers pass controversial bills tightening asylum rules
Dutch lawmakers on Thursday approved two controversial bills aimed at tightening restrictions on asylum-seekers, despite concern from some MPs that the new measures could criminalise those offering humanitarian assistance to undocumented migrants. The legislation, passed by the lower house late Thursday evening, reduces the duration of temporary asylum residency permits from five years to three, halts the issuance of new asylum permits indefinitely, and imposes new restrictions on family reunification for recognised asylum recipients. The Dutch Red Cross estimates that between 23,000 and 58,000 people currently reside in the Netherlands without legal status. Although the bills cleared the lower chamber, they may still face rejection in the upper house following the summer recess. If the Senate blocks the measures, they will return to the lower house for revision. Tighter migration controls were a central pledge of the now-collapsed governing coalition, led by Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party. The four-way government dissolved last month after just 11 months in office, with migration expected to dominate the upcoming snap election on 29 October. Wilders blamed the coalition's collapse on delays in pushing forward with migration reform. While his coalition partners disputed that claim, all parties had previously voiced support for stricter migration policies. Wilders' party currently leads opinion polls by a slim margin over a newly merged centre-left alliance. The Christian Democrats withdrew their support for the legislation following the last-minute addition of an amendment introduced by a member of Wilders' party. The clause, which narrowly passed due to the absence of some opposition MPs, would criminalise individuals and organisations that assist undocumented migrants, as well as those residing in the country without valid visas or asylum rulings. The vote marked the final parliamentary session before the summer break. The upper house is expected to debate the bill upon its return.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany urges Dutch to crack down on citizens' border checks
BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's interior minister and the head of its federal police union on Tuesday criticised unofficial border checks by citizens in the Netherlands, saying they expected decisive action from the Dutch authorities to stamp out such practices. A group of citizens carried out their own checks near the northern Dutch town of Ter Apel on Saturday evening, stopping vehicles to look for asylum seekers, local broadcaster RTV Noord reported on Sunday. The news comes a few days after Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders toppled the ruling coalition in a dispute over migration policy. While Wilders' party only shared power in the government, his anti-immigration views have shaped Dutch policy for decades. The Netherlands has some of the European Union's toughest policies on asylum and immigration. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Tuesday there was no legal basis for the citizens' action. "I believe we will indeed take another look at this if this phenomenon continues ... I also assume that the authorities will end such measures," Dobrindt, who introduced stricter border controls and immediate rejections for asylum seekers last month, said in an emailed statement to Reuters. The head of Germany's Federal Police Union, Andreas Rosskopf, said the Dutch authorities' reaction had been "a bit too little", and urged greater efforts to avoid escalation. "It must be clear that citizens without legal authority have no right to intervene, to monitor, and ultimately to carry out the tasks of the security authorities, the police authorities," Rosskopf told journalists. Dutch broadcaster RTL reported that police found no criminal offence when they arrived at the scene. Caretaker Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said citizens' frustration was understandable but that they must not take the law into their own hands. "Let the police and military police do their job," he said on social media platform X on Sunday. Dutch immigration has slowed significantly from a peak in 2022. The Netherlands received almost two first-time asylum applications per 1,000 inhabitants in 2024, slightly below the EU average, according to Eurostat data.
The Advertiser
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Dutch snap election set for October 29: minister
The Netherlands will hold a general election on October 29 following after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his PVV party out of the coalition government this week. "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. Less than a year in office, Prime Minister Dick Schoof's government fell apart when Wilders demanded that coalition partners sign a 10-point anti-migration plan or risk the cabinet's end. The proposal included sealing the borders with military patrols and rejecting all asylum-seekers at entry points. The four-party coalition, formed more than six months after the November 2023 election, brought together Wilders' PVV party alongside other centre-right parties under the leadership of Schoof, a former intelligence chief. Recent polls show support for Wilders' PVV has declined, although it remains the biggest party in the Dutch parliament. Schoof will continue to lead a caretaker government until a new coalition is formed following the October vote. Agencies The Netherlands will hold a general election on October 29 following after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his PVV party out of the coalition government this week. "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. Less than a year in office, Prime Minister Dick Schoof's government fell apart when Wilders demanded that coalition partners sign a 10-point anti-migration plan or risk the cabinet's end. The proposal included sealing the borders with military patrols and rejecting all asylum-seekers at entry points. The four-party coalition, formed more than six months after the November 2023 election, brought together Wilders' PVV party alongside other centre-right parties under the leadership of Schoof, a former intelligence chief. Recent polls show support for Wilders' PVV has declined, although it remains the biggest party in the Dutch parliament. Schoof will continue to lead a caretaker government until a new coalition is formed following the October vote. Agencies The Netherlands will hold a general election on October 29 following after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his PVV party out of the coalition government this week. "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. Less than a year in office, Prime Minister Dick Schoof's government fell apart when Wilders demanded that coalition partners sign a 10-point anti-migration plan or risk the cabinet's end. The proposal included sealing the borders with military patrols and rejecting all asylum-seekers at entry points. The four-party coalition, formed more than six months after the November 2023 election, brought together Wilders' PVV party alongside other centre-right parties under the leadership of Schoof, a former intelligence chief. Recent polls show support for Wilders' PVV has declined, although it remains the biggest party in the Dutch parliament. Schoof will continue to lead a caretaker government until a new coalition is formed following the October vote. Agencies The Netherlands will hold a general election on October 29 following after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his PVV party out of the coalition government this week. "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. Less than a year in office, Prime Minister Dick Schoof's government fell apart when Wilders demanded that coalition partners sign a 10-point anti-migration plan or risk the cabinet's end. The proposal included sealing the borders with military patrols and rejecting all asylum-seekers at entry points. The four-party coalition, formed more than six months after the November 2023 election, brought together Wilders' PVV party alongside other centre-right parties under the leadership of Schoof, a former intelligence chief. Recent polls show support for Wilders' PVV has declined, although it remains the biggest party in the Dutch parliament. Schoof will continue to lead a caretaker government until a new coalition is formed following the October vote. Agencies
West Australian
06-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Dutch snap election set for October 29: minister
The Netherlands will hold a general election on October 29 following after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his PVV party out of the coalition government this week. "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. Less than a year in office, Prime Minister Dick Schoof's government fell apart when Wilders demanded that coalition partners sign a 10-point anti-migration plan or risk the cabinet's end. The proposal included sealing the borders with military patrols and rejecting all asylum-seekers at entry points. The four-party coalition, formed more than six months after the November 2023 election, brought together Wilders' PVV party alongside other centre-right parties under the leadership of Schoof, a former intelligence chief. Recent polls show support for Wilders' PVV has declined, although it remains the biggest party in the Dutch parliament. Schoof will continue to lead a caretaker government until a new coalition is formed following the October vote. Agencies
Perth Now
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Dutch snap election set for October 29: minister
The Netherlands will hold a general election on October 29 following after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his PVV party out of the coalition government this week. "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. Less than a year in office, Prime Minister Dick Schoof's government fell apart when Wilders demanded that coalition partners sign a 10-point anti-migration plan or risk the cabinet's end. The proposal included sealing the borders with military patrols and rejecting all asylum-seekers at entry points. The four-party coalition, formed more than six months after the November 2023 election, brought together Wilders' PVV party alongside other centre-right parties under the leadership of Schoof, a former intelligence chief. Recent polls show support for Wilders' PVV has declined, although it remains the biggest party in the Dutch parliament. Schoof will continue to lead a caretaker government until a new coalition is formed following the October vote. Agencies
