The Netherlands’ fragile ruling coalition crumbled on today (Tuesday) after far-right leader Geert Wilders announced his party’s withdrawal from the government, citing unresolved tensions over immigration policy.
Wilders, head of the Party for Freedom (PVV), declared the split in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “No signature for our asylum plans… PVV leaves the coalition.”
He said he had formally notified Prime Minister Dick Schoof that all PVV ministers would resign, effectively dismantling the coalition that came to power following the PVV’s strong performance in the November 2023 elections, according to news agencies.
Wilders’ decision came amid growing frustration over what he perceived as delays in implementing the “strictest-ever immigration policy”, a central demand in the coalition agreement. His 10-point plan, which included closing borders to asylum-seekers and family reunifications, expanding deportations (including of dual nationals convicted of crimes), and shutting down asylum centers, faced mounting legal and political challenges.
Despite repeated warnings in recent weeks that he would topple the coalition if progress was not made, other parties in the four-way coalition remained hesitant or resistant to his hardline demands. Critics argued that many elements of Wilders’ plan were either legally unfeasible or in breach of international obligations.
The collapse of the government comes at a diplomatically sensitive moment for the Netherlands, just weeks ahead of a major NATO summit set to take place in the country.
Some political analysts have suggested Wilders may have been actively engineering a political crisis to either force early elections or reinforce his image as a staunch defender of nationalist priorities, even at the expense of coalition stability.
