A disagreement over immigration policy led Geert Wilders’ populist party to withdraw from the Dutch governing coalition on Tuesday, collapsing the government after less than a year and likely prompting early elections.

Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV) and known for his hardline stance, demanded ten stricter asylum measures, including freezing applications and limiting family reunification. These demands were rejected by the other three coalition partners. 

Wilders announced his party’s withdrawal, stating that the other ruling parties were unwilling to back his proposals to halt asylum migration.

“No signature under our asylum plans… The PVV leaves the coalition,” Wilders posted on X.

Wilders informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof that all PVV ministers would resign from the government. Schoof has yet to respond to the resignation.

Some of Wilders’ proposed measures, such as enhanced border controls, were already government policy. However, he also sought to strip citizenship from individuals with dual passports, a proposal criticized as undermining fundamental rights, according to Dutch media.

Wilders also expressed frustration with his asylum minister, Marjolein Faber, for delaying the repeal of the scatter bill – legislation aimed at distributing asylum seekers more evenly across municipalities. The Dutch parliament is still awaiting consideration of its initial asylum laws, the report noted. Wilders viewed the scatter bill as a symbol of a failed asylum policy and a threat to Dutch identity.

Last week, Wilders called for the army to guard land borders and reject all asylum seekers. He stated that his party would leave the Cabinet if immigration policy was not tightened, a promise he fulfilled on Tuesday. 

“I signed up for the toughest asylum policy and not the downfall of the Netherlands,” Wilders told reporters.

The next steps remain unclear. The government may attempt to continue as a minority administration or call for new elections later this year. Schoof convened an emergency Cabinet meeting for early afternoon.

Wilders achieved a surprisingly large victory in November 2023, securing 23% of the vote. However, recent polls suggest his support has declined since joining the government.

Current polls indicate his party has around 20% of the vote, roughly equal to the Labour/Green combination, which is currently the second-largest party in parliament.

Dilan Yesilgöz, leader of the right-wing People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, described Wilders’ move as “super-irresponsible” and expressed his shock.

This development occurs amid a surge in right-wing parties, fueled by EU skepticism and increasing discontent over mass immigration and economic insecurity. 

For example, Poland elected Karol Nawrocki, a conservative supported by President Donald Trump, in the country’s presidential runoff election, while Czech Republic’s eurosceptic opposition leader Andrej Babis, a former prime minister, is leading in the opinion polls before the election in October.

Meanwhile, the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has also risen to become the second-largest party in some national polls.

Reuters and  

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