The Dutch government has teetered on the brink of collapse, after far-right leader Geert Wilders announced that his Freedom Party (PVV) was withdrawn from the ruling coalition.
The shock move is expected to bring down the fragile right-wing government and trigger fresh elections, with far-reaching implications across Europe.
Wilders cited a lack of support from his coalition partners for his hardline asylum proposals as the reason for the withdrawal.
“No signature under our asylum plans. The PVV leaves the coalition,” he declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Wilders confirmed he had informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof that all PVV ministers would resign with immediate effect. Schoof, who has not yet issued a public statement, leads the government as an unelected technocrat following Wilders’ failure to secure the premiership after last year’s general election.
The departure of the PVV ends an already fragile coalition of four conservative parties, which had been dogged by infighting and policy deadlock since taking office in July 2024.
The potential snap election adds fresh political uncertainty to the eurozone’s fifth-largest economy. It also casts a shadow over upcoming national commitments, including a long-awaited decision to raise defence spending in line with new NATO targets.
The Netherlands is due to host a NATO summit in The Hague later this month, which may now take place under a caretaker government.
The Dutch political crisis emerges amid a broader surge in support for far-right and nationalist movements across Europe. In Poland, nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki narrowly won the presidency on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in the Czech Republic, former prime minister and eurosceptic opposition leader Andrej Babiš is leading polls ahead of the October election. Romania, however, bucked the trend last month when centrist mayor Nicușor Dan defeated his nationalist rival in a surprise presidential victory.
Wilders’ coalition partners reacted with disbelief and condemnation, accusing him of shirking responsibility at a critical moment.
“There is a war on our continent. Instead of meeting the challenge, Wilders is showing he is not willing to take responsibility,” said Dilan Yeşilgöz, leader of the conservative VVD party.
“It is irresponsible to take down the government at this point,” added Nicolien van Vroonhoven, leader of the centrist NSC party.
With the PVV’s exit, the remaining coalition parties have the technical option of continuing as a minority government, but political observers consider this unlikely.
Frans Timmermans, leader of the Labour/Green alliance and head of the opposition, said new elections were inevitable.
“I see no other way to form a stable government,” he said.
Although Wilders’ PVV secured a commanding 23 per cent of the vote in the November 2023 election, recent opinion polls suggest that support has eroded. The PVV now polls at around 20 per cent — roughly even with the Labour/Green bloc.
Last week, Wilders demanded immediate endorsement of a controversial ten-point immigration plan.
His proposals included closing the country’s borders to all asylum seekers, deporting Syrian refugees, shutting down asylum shelters, expelling convicted migrant offenders, and deploying the military to bolster border controls.
Despite leading the largest party in parliament, Wilders did not become prime minister following last year’s election. Instead, he agreed to support a technocratic cabinet led by Dick Schoof, a former head of the Dutch intelligence service AIVD.
Wilders himself was convicted in 2016 for inciting discrimination against Moroccans, a conviction that has continued to cast a shadow over his political career.
Boluwatife Enome
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