THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The Dutch government led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof collapsed on Tuesday after Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) abruptly withdrew from the ruling coalition, citing irreconcilable differences over asylum and migration policy.
The collapse comes less than a year after the coalition was formed following PVV’s surprise victory in the November 2023 general elections.
The coalition included the centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), the populist Farmer-Citizens Movement (BBB), and Wilders’ PVV.
Wilders announced his decision early Tuesday morning on social media platform X, stating: “No signature, no adjustments, so PVV leaves the coalition.”
He accused his coalition partners of failing to commit to a stringent ten-point asylum policy plan proposed by his party.
The plan reportedly included closing borders to asylum seekers, strengthening military border controls, reducing the number of asylum centres, and deporting Syrian refugees with temporary residence permits, according to VRT news.
“I signed up to the strictest asylum policy, not the downfall of The Netherlands,” Wilders told reporters in The Hague, adding that he had informed Prime Minister Schoof that PVV ministers would resign from the cabinet.
The other coalition leaders expressed frustration and disappointment over the move.
VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz criticised Wilders for prioritising his “own ego and own interests” over national stability.
“He throws away the chance for a right-wing policy. This is super irresponsible,” she said.
Caroline van der Plas, leader of the BBB, accused Wilders of sabotaging the government. “He holds all the cards and is deliberately pulling the plug,” she said on X.
NSC’s Nicolien van Vroonhoven echoed the sentiment, telling Dutch broadcaster NOS, “This is really incomprehensible. We were already working on some of his concerns.”
The governing parties had convened emergency talks on Tuesday morning in a last-ditch attempt to bridge the gap on asylum policy. However, the negotiations failed, with both sides expecting an impasse even before the meeting began.
Rob Jetten, leader of the opposition liberal D66, said the government’s downfall was inevitable. “If it hadn’t happened today, it would have happened sometime in the next few weeks,” he told NOS.
Jetten described the coalition as dysfunctional and accused the other parties of being “held hostage by Wilders.”
Tensions within the coalition had been simmering for months. Wilders had publicly clashed with Prime Minister Schoof over key foreign policy issues, including Dutch support for Ukraine and Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp’s call for the EU to reassess its agreement with Israel.
Tuesday’s collapse plunges the Netherlands into political uncertainty just weeks before the country is set to host a major NATO summit in The Hague, where member states are expected to discuss increased defence spending.
