Geert Wilders’ Party Quits Coalition, Triggers Political Instability in Netherlands

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders announced on Tuesday that his party, the PVV, is leaving the governing coalition. This decision is poised to collapse the right-wing government and may lead to new elections.

Wilders stated his coalition partners refused to back his proposals to halt asylum migration. “No signature under our asylum plans. The PVV leaves the coalition,” Wilders wrote in a post on X.

He informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof that all ministers from the PVV would resign from the government. Schoof has not publicly responded to this development.

This surprising move ends what has been a fragile coalition struggling for consensus since its formation last July. The resignation adds to political uncertainty in the euro zone’s fifth-largest economy and is likely to delay significant defense spending decisions necessary to align with NATO targets.

The Netherlands will operate with a caretaker government during a crucial upcoming NATO summit in The Hague later this month.

Wilders’ coalition partners reacted with disbelief. Dilan Yesilgoz, leader of the conservative VVD party, expressed frustration saying, “This is making us look like a fool. Instead of meeting the challenge, Wilders is showing he is not willing to take responsibility.” Nicolien van Vroonhoven, leader of the centrist NSC party, called the decision “irresponsible.”

With the PVV’s exit, other parties may attempt to govern as a minority coalition, although this has not yet been confirmed.

Wilders previously won the most recent election in the Netherlands but has seen his support wane in recent polls, now estimated at about 20% of the votes, roughly equal to the Labour/Green combination, which is currently the second-largest in parliament.

Last week, Wilders demanded immediate backing for his proposals to completely cease asylum migration, repatriate Syrian refugees, and close asylum shelters. His coalition partners, however, reiterated that it was up to the migration minister from his party to draft specific proposals.

Wilders himself is not part of the government as a minister or leader, having been convicted of discrimination for comments made about Moroccans during a 2014 campaign rally. He managed to form a coalition last year only after relinquishing his bid to become prime minister. The coalition has been led by the independent Prime Minister Dick Schoof, a former bureaucrat.