Dutch Government Disintegrates as Right-Wing Leader Wilders Abandon Coalition
Geert Wilders' PVV party pulling the plug on the governing coalition quakes the right-wing government, setting stage for a tumultuous future. Wilders, known for fiercely advocating for asylum restrictions, announced the coalition's dissolution via a post, citing unyielding support from his partners for the asylum plan. He informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof of his party's ministerial resignations, with Schoof yet to respond.
This impromptu decision caps off an already precarious coalition, which has been grappling with consensus since its installation last year. Unsurprisingly, the upheaval is expected to lead to fresh elections in the coming months, intensifying political fluctuations within the euro zone's fifth-largest economy.
The reshuffle could also delay a momentous decision on increased defense spending to meet NATO's targets, leaving the Netherlands to navigate crucial talks with NATO leaders in The Hague later this month with only a provisional government in place.
The PVV's sudden exit drew dismay and indignation from coalition allies. The leader of the conservative VVD party, Dilan Yesilgoz, questioned Wilders' commitment to the continent's security, claiming the move makes the nation appear feeble during times of conflict. Meanwhile, the centrist NSC party's leader, Nicolien van Vroonhoven, labeled the news as irresponsible, given the present political climate.
Facing imminent general elections, polls predict the party's decline, with its support leveling at around 20% of the votes. Just last week, Wilders demanded immediate backing for his plans to halt asylum migration, return Syrian refugees to their homeland, and bolster asylum shelter closures. However, allies remained unsupportive, escalating the already tense coalition.
Over the years, Wilders has earned a conviction for discrimination, and he forged a coalition deal with three conservative parties after relinquishing his bid for prime minister. The cabinet, led by independent and unelected Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who previously led the Dutch intelligence agency and served as the ministry's most senior justice official, took charge.
The unexpected dissolution of the governing coalition, led by Geert Wilders' PVV party, threatens to destabilize the fifth-largest economy in the euro zone, as fresh elections loom in the near future. The reshuffle could potentially stall critical policy-and-legislation decisions, such as increasing defense spending to meet NATO targets, thus affecting the nation's politics and foreign relations, particularly during times of war-and-conflicts.
