Geert Wilders has been accused of “betrayal” and being “super irresponsible”, after his far-right party quit the Dutch government and sparked its collapse following a row over immigration. Wilders’ Party For Freedom (PVV) was the largest member of a four party coalition that came to power in July 2024.
The others were the conservative-liberal (VVD), the Farmers’ Citizen Movement (BBB) and the centrist New Social Contract. From the very start, the coalition was marred by infighting and struggled to implement any of its policies. Wilders provoked the crisis after pushing for 10 additional asylum measures to control migrant numbers.
These included a freeze on applications, halting the construction of reception centres and limiting family reunification.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof called an emergency government meeting in a desperate bid to save the coalition.
However, the meeting lasted just one minute before the far-right leader walked out.
Wilders immediately took to social media to announce the departure of his party from the coalition.
“No signature for our asylum plans. PVV leaves the coalition,” he said on X.
Prime Minister Schoof later confirmed he was stepping down and offered the resignation of the cabinet to King Willem-Alexander.
Dutch political leaders reacted with shock and anger, with some accusing Wilders of deliberately engineering a political crisis.
VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz said the move was “super irresponsible”, adding: “This wasn’t about asylum at all.”
While deputy Prime Minister Mona Keijzer from the BBB fumed: “I think Wilders is betraying the Netherlands.”
Wilders appears confident that he can secure electoral victory and become the country’s next prime minister.
Polls show the far right and Green-Left parties are neck-and-neck, with migration and cost-of-living issues prominent among the concerns of voters.
Wilders told reporters on Tuesday that his goal was “to ensure that the PVV becomes bigger than ever in the next elections”.
His decision to quit the government was praised by a Belgian politician from the right-wing populist Vlaams Belang party.
“Respect for Geert Wilders: rather not in government than betray his program,” Kristof Slagmulder wrote on X.
“He remains loyal to his voters. In stark contrast to Bart De Wever, who swallows everything for the Belgian premiership and saddles us with socialist policies. Principles above positions!”
