Government crisis in the Netherlands

Wilders leaves – government falls in the Netherlands

The Dutch government is collapsing after far-right politician Geert Wilders from the PVV decided to leave, reports De Telegraaf. The reason is a row over the government's asylum policy.

"No signature for our asylum plans. No adjustment to the framework agreement. The PVV is leaving the coalition," Wilders writes on X.

Last week, he presented a ten-point plan for a stricter asylum policy that he hoped his government colleagues would sign on Tuesday morning. But the coalition believes that the proposal must first be further developed, writes De Telegraaf. The defection looks set to lead to the collapse of the already shaky coalition government and that a quick new election is expected, writes AFP.

Government holds emergency meeting – opposition demands new elections

The remnants of the Dutch right-wing government are calling an emergency meeting at 1:30 p.m. after the largest party, the PVV, led by far-right politician Geert Wilders, left the coalition and took all of its ministers with them.

The expected outcome is that Prime Minister Dick Schoof will then go to the king to announce that the entire government is resigning, reports the Dutch newspaper NRC.

After Wilders' announcement, another conceivable possibility has been raised: that the other parties continue as a minority government. But the Social Democratic opposition leader Frans Timmermans rules out giving support to such a government. He is demanding a quick new election.

– There is a war going on at the borders of Europe, there are major problems in the Netherlands that are still unresolved, he says and continues:

– The people are tired of nothing happening.

Prime Minister resigns: "It should never have happened"

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof is resigning, reports Reuters. This comes after far-right politician Geert Wilders and his party PVV decided to leave the government earlier on Tuesday.

The PVV was the largest party in the country's right-wing government and the decision was based on dissatisfaction with the fact that the partner parties did not agree to Wilders' demands for a stricter migration policy. In connection with the resignation, Schoof criticizes Wilders' decision.

- It is irresponsible and unnecessary. I believe it should never have happened, he says according to De Telegraaf.

Schoof will probably lead a transitional government until new elections are held, and hopes that parliament will be able to agree on a number of important issues, writes Algemeen Dagblad.