The Dutch government is in danger of collapsing as the far-right PVV led by Wilders leaves the coalition

Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV left the coalition over differences over asylum policy, sparking political unrest that could lead to the fall of the Dutch government.

Following the announcement by far-right leader Geert Wilders that his Freedom Party (PVV) had been removed from the ruling coalition, the Dutch government has been on the verge of disintegrating.

With far-reaching effects throughout Europe, the bombshell decision is predicted to topple the shaky right-wing administration and lead to new elections.

The pullout, according to Wilders, was due to his coalition partners’ lack of support for his tough asylum ideas.

“Under our asylum plans, no signature. He announced in a post on X (previously Twitter) that the PVV was leaving the coalition.

According to Wilders, he had notified Prime Minister Dick Schoof that all PVV ministers would be leaving their positions immediately. Since Wilders failed to win the premiership in last year’s general election, Schoof, who has not yet made a public statement, has been leading the government as an unelected technocrat.

The PVV’s exit puts an end to an already precarious alliance of four conservative parties that has been plagued by policy impasse and internal strife since assuming office in July 2024.

The fifth-largest economy in the eurozone faces additional political instability due to the possible snap election. Additionally, it clouds future national obligations, such as the long-awaited decision to increase defense spending to meet new NATO targets.

Later this month, the Netherlands is scheduled to host a NATO meeting in The Hague, which might now be held under a caretaker administration.

A wider rise in support for far-right and nationalist movements throughout Europe coincides with the Dutch political crisis. Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist contender, won the Polish presidency by a slim margin on Sunday.

Ahead of the October election, Andrej Babiš, the opposition leader and former prime minister of the Czech Republic, is topping surveys. Babiš is a euroskeptic. However, Romania defied the trend last month when Nicușor Dan, a moderate mayor, unexpectedly won the presidency against his nationalist opponent.

In response, Wilders’ coalition allies expressed shock and censure, accusing him of evading accountability at a crucial juncture.

Our continent is engulfed in conflict. Dilan Yeşilgöz, the leader of the conservative VVD party, stated, “Wilders is demonstrating that he is unwilling to accept responsibility instead of meeting the challenge.”

Nicolien van Vroonhoven, the leader of the centrist NSC party, adding, “Toppling the government at this time is reckless.”

Technically, the surviving coalition parties could continue as a minority administration when the PVV leaves, but political analysts doubt this is possible.

The head of the opposition and leader of the Labour/Green alliance, Frans Timmermans, stated that fresh elections were unavoidable.

He declared, “I see no other way to form a stable government.”

In the November 2023 election, Wilders’ PVV received a resounding 23% of the vote, but new polls indicate that support has declined. Currently, the PVV polls at about 20%, which is about the same as the Labour/Green coalition.

Wilders called for the swift approval of a contentious ten-point immigration plan last week.

He suggested expelling convicted migrant offenders, closing asylum shelters, deporting Syrian refugees, closing the nation’s borders to all asylum seekers, and using the military to strengthen border controls.

After last year’s election, Wilders did not become prime minister even though he led the biggest party in parliament. He consented instead to back a technocratic administration headed by Dick Schoof, a former chief of the AIVD spy agency in the Netherlands.

In 2016, Wilders was found guilty of promoting prejudice against Moroccans; this conviction has remained a cloud over his political career.