Geert Wilders pulls his party from the Dutch coalition over asylum demands, toppling the government in less than a year.
The Dutch government has crumbled less than a year after its formation, following Geert Wilders’ dramatic withdrawal of his far-right PVV party from the ruling coalition. The split, rooted in a bitter disagreement over asylum and migration policies, has pushed the country back into political uncertainty.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof tendered his resignation to King Willem-Alexander on Tuesday after an emergency cabinet meeting. In a brief televised statement, he labeled Wilders’ exit as “irresponsible and unnecessary”, adding, “As far as I’m concerned, this shouldn’t have happened.”
Coalition Fractures Over Asylum Policy Push
The coalition, formed in July 2024 after months of difficult negotiations, had long been viewed as fragile and ideologically strained. Wilders had demanded ten additional asylum-related measures — including a moratorium on new applications, halting reception centre construction, and restricting family reunification — many of which were previously excluded from the coalition agreement due to legal challenges.
When no agreement was reached, Wilders abruptly exited a high-stakes Tuesday meeting, posting on X:
“No signature for our asylum plans. PVV leaves the coalition.”
This marked the collapse of a government built on uneasy cooperation between Wilders’ PVV, the conservative-liberal VVD, the BBB (Farmers’ Citizen Movement), and the centrist New Social Contract.
Backlash from Former Coalition Partners
The aftermath was marked by anger and blame. Deputy Prime Minister Mona Keijzer of the BBB accused Wilders of “betraying the Netherlands”, while VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz called the move “super irresponsible”, arguing that asylum policy was being used as a cover for political maneuvering.
Insiders note that many of Wilders’ demands aligned with existing agreements and could have been implemented without fracturing the alliance.
Personal Ambition or National Interest?
Despite facing backlash, Wilders struck a defiant tone, telling reporters he aimed to become the next Prime Minister of the Netherlands, promising that the PVV would come back “bigger than ever” in the next election.
Yet analysts warn that the calculated collapse may backfire. Armida van Rij of Chatham House suggested Wilders’ move was fueled by declining support for his Freedom Party, and that this gamble could damage future coalition prospects.
Political analyst Sandra Phlippen from ABN AMRO said the economic impact of the collapse was minimal, noting the coalition had “barely made any concrete plans” during its brief tenure.
What Happens Next?
With the NATO summit scheduled in The Hague later this month, Prime Minister Schoof and his ministers are expected to continue in a caretaker role until elections are held — likely this autumn, according to Dutch media.
In the Netherlands’ proportional representation system, forming a government requires a majority coalition in the 150-seat parliament — a task that may prove even more difficult for Wilders after this episode. His decision to place asylum at the centre of a political showdown could dominate his campaign but also draw scrutiny, given that his party has already held responsibility for immigration policy for nearly a year.
As the Netherlands braces for another election, the implications of this political rupture will echo well beyond migration — into questions of trust, leadership, and coalition-building in Europe’s shifting political landscape.
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