THE HAGUE: The Dutch authorities on Friday announced that the country will hold snap elections on October 29, following the collapse of the ruling coalition after far-right leader Geert Wilders withdrew his support, plunging the country into political turmoil.
“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.
The upcoming election in the Netherlands, the European Union’s fifth-largest economy and a key global exporter, is expected to draw close attention across Europe, where far-right parties have recently seen strong electoral gains.
Current polls show Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) in a tight race with the Left/Green alliance led by former European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans. The liberal VVD party is trailing just behind, indicating a highly competitive contest.
The snap election was triggered by Wilders’ abrupt decision to pull the PVV out of the fragile four-party ruling coalition amid disagreements over immigration policy. Wilders criticised the government for not moving quickly enough to implement what had been billed as the “strictest-ever” immigration measures, ultimately leading to the coalition’s collapse.
It may be recalled that he won November 2023 elections by a significant margin – clinching 37 seats out of the 150 in parliament.
Geert Wilders managed to form a governing coalition by securing the support of the liberal VVD, the BBB farmers’ party, and the anti-corruption NSC party. However, in doing so, he had to abandon his bid to become prime minister.
Since the election, support for Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) appears to have declined slightly, with recent polls indicating they would win approximately 28 to 30 seats.
There was widespread fury with the far-right leader for bringing down the government over what many saw as an artificial crisis.
