Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
THE HAGUE, June 4 (Xinhua) — The Dutch government led by Prime Minister Dick Schof is in crisis after Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) quit the coalition on Tuesday over deepening differences over asylum policy.
“We had no choice. I promised voters the toughest asylum policy, but you didn’t get it,” Wilders wrote on the social network X after announcing the PVV’s departure from the government.
The move follows months of growing tensions within the coalition. A government crisis was averted last October by a last-minute agreement on additional asylum measures, but migration remains a divisive issue.
The ensuing disputes further strained relations between the four coalition partners: the PVV, the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy /VVD/, the New Social Contract /NSC/ and the Farmers’ and Citizens’ Movement /BBB/.
The situation escalated last week when Wilders presented a 10-point plan at a press conference calling for a complete halt to the admission of refugees. The other coalition leaders did not support it, and the PVV leader again threatened to leave the government.
An emergency meeting was held on Monday, but no agreement was reached. On Tuesday morning, Wilders pulled the PVV out of the coalition. “Our asylum plans have not been signed. No changes have been made to the basic agreement. The PVV is leaving the coalition,” he wrote on the X website shortly after the meeting.
The move has caused outrage and bewilderment among the other government parties. BBB leader Caroline van der Plas called it a “reckless move,” NSC leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven called it “irresponsible,” and VVD leader Dylan Yesilgoes-Zegerius said that “Wilders has once again put his own interests above the national interest.”
The coalition’s collapse comes as Wilders’ popularity is declining. A recent poll by Maurice de Hond showed that the PVV could count on 28 seats in parliament, nine fewer than in 2023. For the first time since those elections, the opposition bloc Green Left/Labour Party (GroenLinks-PvdA) has overtaken the PVV and is aiming for 29 mandates.
On Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister D. Schof formally submitted the government’s resignation to King Willem-Alexander. The cabinet will now continue to function as a caretaker until new elections are due in a few months. –0–