Netherlands
Right-wing populist Wilders will not become head of government
Wilders said he was paving the way for a right-wing coalition and policies aimed at reducing immigration and asylum. photo
© Peter Dejong/AP/dpa
The right-wing populist Wilders is resigning from the office of head of government – despite his election victory. His potential partners don’t support him. Is the way now clear for a radical right-wing government?
Four right-wing parties, including Wilders’ extreme right-wing “Party for Freedom”, want to negotiate the formation of a coalition. They agreed on this in discussions over the past few days. Details are expected to be announced today. Then the probe commissioned by Parliament, the Social Democrat Kim Putters, presents his report. Parliament is expected to discuss this next week and decide on further steps.
Wilders said he was paving the way for a right-wing coalition and policies aimed at reducing immigration and asylum. For this he is resigning from office. “I can only become prime minister if all parties in the coalition support it,” writes the leader of the anti-Islam party on X. “That wasn’t the case.”
Head of government: Wilders has not yet given up on the plan
In the early parliamentary election in November, Wilders’ Party for Freedom became by far the strongest faction, but needs at least two other parties for a majority. But two of the possible partners, the right-wing liberal VVD of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the center-right NSC party, had refused to form a coalition under Wilders. The fourth party in the possible alliance is the right-wing populist protest party Bauerbürgermovement BBB.
Wilders has not yet completely given up his plan to become head of government. “Don’t forget: I will still become Prime Minister of the Netherlands,” he wrote shortly after the announcement on ”
The head of the extreme right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV) desperately wants to put together a radical right-wing government and has already put a large part of his party program on hold. He has withdrawn legislative proposals to ban the Koran and mosques as well as the deprivation of civil rights for people with dual nationality. He also gave up his opposition to further military aid for Ukraine.
Giving up isn’t a big sacrifice for Wilders
However, the talks between the four parties collapsed in January. The mediator appointed by parliament then sought a solution in talks with the party leaders. According to information from the media, a kind of “extra-parliamentary government” is now being sought. But what exactly that should look like is unclear.
According to reports, the four parties do not want to conclude a comprehensive coalition agreement, but only want to agree on the basic principles. This includes the significant reduction in migration and asylum. The parties also wanted to send all ministers into the government. These could also be experts. It is unclear who will become head of government in this radical right-wing cabinet.
Observers also point out that the waiver is not a big sacrifice for Wilders. He can continue to play his critical role as group leader from within Parliament and does not have to bear external responsibility. Wilders is also the only member of his party and wants to retain control of his faction. It now consists of 37 of the 150 MPs, most of whom are new and politically inexperienced.