Wilders Triggers Dutch Government Collapse
Wilders triggers Dutch government collapse after just months in power, as tensions over immigration policies fracture his fragile coalition. Geert Wilders, the outspoken far-right leader of the Freedom Party, walked away from the alliance less than a year after his historic election win—a move that could damage his political future.
After months of internal tension, the four-party coalition dissolved on Tuesday. The tipping point came when Wilders’ partners refused to support his aggressive immigration plan, which many believed would violate Dutch and EU laws. Despite the chaos, Wilders remained defiant.
“I will continue and become the next prime minister of the Netherlands,” he declared to reporters as interim Prime Minister Dick Schoof submitted his resignation to the king.
For Wilders, who has built his career on anti-Islam rhetoric and populist promises, this was a calculated risk. He’s betting that his tough stance on migration will win him even more support in a fresh election. But in the Netherlands’ fragmented political system, that’s a high-stakes gamble—especially since he may now struggle to find any coalition partners willing to work with him again.
Allies Turned Critics
The coalition was always fragile. After Wilders’ Freedom Party won the most seats in the November 2023 election, three other right-leaning parties reluctantly agreed to form a government, on the condition that Wilders would not serve as prime minister. Instead, they selected Dick Schoof, a technocratic former intelligence chief with no party affiliation, to lead the cabinet.
But Schoof’s efforts to hold the coalition together proved difficult from the start. Ministers often held private meetings without him, and even basic efforts to build trust, like a team-building card game, e—ended in disputes. Pieter Omtzigt, leader of the New Social Contract (NSC), walked out over a budget disagreement and later quit politics entirely.
The breaking point came when Wilders pushed his coalition partners to support a hardline 10-point immigration plan. Among its proposals: closing asylum centers, using the military to guard borders, and deporting all Syrian refugees, based on the claim that Syria is now safe. Coalition members balked, and Wilders decided to walk away.
His decision shocked his partners, including Mona Keijzer from the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), who had previously backed his populist platform.
“I think Geert Wilders is betraying the Netherlands,” she said on her way into a cabinet meeting. “He’s putting himself above the country.”
Sophie Hermans of the conservative-liberal VVD was equally furious: “I’m angry, disappointed, and honestly baffled. With everything going on in the world, how can you choose chaos right now?”
Blame and Breakdown
Wilders has long attacked government policies on asylum and immigration. He claimed his actions were consistent with his promises:
“I signed up for the toughest asylum policy, not for the downfall of the country,” he told reporters.
But critics say he’s trying to dodge responsibility. Other party leaders pointed out that Marjolein Faber, the Freedom Party’s asylum minister, had failed to present any workable plans to reduce refugee numbers.
“He’s blaming others for the failure of his own minister,” said a senior coalition insider.
Immigration policy has repeatedly torn Dutch coalitions apart. Former Prime Minister Mark Rutte ended his government in 2023 over a migration dispute. The Netherlands, already one of the most densely populated countries in the world, has struggled to house a growing number of asylum seekers, leading to overcrowded shelters and worsening housing shortages.
Political Fallout Ahead
While Wilders hopes to ride public frustration over immigration to another electoral win, polls suggest he may face headwinds. His Freedom Party has lost ground since the 2023 election. Other populist parties, like the BBB and NSC, may also be wiped out in the upcoming vote, expected in September.
Meanwhile, centrist forces appear to be regaining momentum. The VVD, now led by Dilan Yesilgöz, is polling steadily with around 25 to 31 seats, similar to Wilders’ party. A joint Labour/GreenLeft ticket, led by former EU commissioner Frans Timmermans, is also performing strongly, polling between 25 and 29 seats.
The Christian Democrats, hurt by defections to the now-crumbling NSC, are hoping to rebound with 16 to 20 seats. In the Dutch parliament, 76 out of 150 seats are needed to form a majority government.
A Return to the Center?
Some analysts believe Dutch politics may now swing back toward the center.
“Expect this to become a two-way contest between the VVD and Labour/GreenLeft,” said Deniz Horzum, a former Dutch government official. “It’ll be: vote for us, or risk getting chaos again.”
Horzum added that a centrist coalition could restore the Netherlands’ influence in Europe.
“We’ve been punching above our weight in Brussels for years,” he said. “But recently, we’ve just been shooting ourselves in the foot. A more stable government could put us back where we belong.”
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