Netherlands Government on Brink of Collapse as Geert Wilders Pulls Out
The Dutch government is facing an uncertain future after Geert Wilders, the leader of the far-right Freedom party (PVV), announced that his party would be leaving the ruling coalition. The move, which was confirmed on Tuesday, has significant implications for the country’s 11-month-old government and may lead to new elections later this year.
According to The Guardian, Wilders informed the Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, that all PVV ministers would be leaving the government due to a row over immigration and asylum policy. The decision was made after a brief meeting between the four party leaders, which failed to reach a consensus on the issue. Wilders had been pushing for a radical tightening of immigration policy, which included enlisting the army to secure and patrol the borders, turning all asylum seekers back at the border, and shutting refugee accommodation facilities.
As reported by The Guardian, Wilders told reporters that he had signed up for the "toughest asylum policy, not the downfall of the Netherlands." He also stated that since there had been "no signoff on our asylum plans," the PVV was "leaving the coalition." The move has been met with anger and disappointment from the coalition partners, with Dilan Yeşilgöz, the leader of the liberal-conservative VVD, describing Wilders’ decision as "super-irresponsible."
The coalition between the PVV, the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), and the liberal-conservative VVD has been fragile from the start, and Wilders’ decision has raised questions about the future of the government. The three remaining coalition partners could theoretically try to stay on as a minority administration, but new elections later this year are seen as more likely.
Frans Timmermans, the leader of the opposition Labour/Green alliance, has called for fresh elections, stating that "I see no other way to form a stable government." Timmermans, a former European Commission vice-president, also criticised Wilders’ decision, saying that it was "incredible and incomprehensible" that the PVV had pulled out of the coalition.
As The Guardian reports, Wilders’ plan has been met with opposition from coalition partners, who argue that several of the proposals breach European human rights laws or the UN refugee convention. The plan also includes suspending EU asylum quotas and banning family members joining refugees already in the country. Recent polls have shown that the PVV has lost significant voter support since its shock election win in November 2023, with the party now polling around 20%, roughly level with the Labour/Green alliance.
Wilders is not the first to walk away from a coalition deal. In 2010, he pledged support to a minority government led by the former Prime Minister Mark Rutte, but withdrew his support less than two years later due to a dispute over government austerity measures. Rob Jetten, the leader of the opposition liberal D66 party, said that "you know that if you work with Wilders in a coalition… it won’t go well."
The Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, could hand in his resignation to King Willem-Alexander as early as Tuesday afternoon, less than a month before the Netherlands is due to host a summit of Nato leaders in The Hague. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is certain: the Netherlands is facing a period of uncertainty and potentially significant change.
According to The Guardian, Wilders’ decision has sparked a heated debate about the country’s immigration policy and the role of the far-right in Dutch politics. With the PVV being the largest party in parliament, Wilders’ move has significant implications for the country’s future. As the news continues to break, The Guardian will provide updates and analysis on the developing story.
The news was originally reported by The Guardian on June 3, 2025, in an article titled "Netherlands government on brink of collapse as Geert Wilders pulls out".
