Dutch Far-Right Party Quits Government, Sparks Political Crisis

Dutch far-right lawmaker Geert Wilders pulled his party out of the governing coalition Tuesday after disagreements over an immigration crackdown, a move that likely marks the end of the 11-month-old government and could spark new elections, the Associated Press reported. 

Wilders had demanded that his coalition partners sign a 10-point plan to radically slash immigration, a plan that would have deployed the army to guard land borders and denied entry to asylum-seekers. Formed last July, the fragile coalition included Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), and the liberal-conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). 

Legal analysts said the plan violates European human rights laws and the United Nations’ refugee convention, noted the Guardian. 

On Tuesday, after a meeting between the leaders of the coalition parties, Wilders pulled the PVV out of the government because of the lack of an agreement on immigration. 

His decision has pushed the country into a political crisis just three weeks before the Netherlands hosts a NATO summit in The Hague, at which alliance members are expected to decide on historic increases in defense spending, wrote Reuters.  

The other members of the Dutch coalition reacted with disbelief and anger, accusing Wilders and the PVV of being irresponsible in challenging times, referring to the war in Ukraine and a possible economic crisis on the horizon. 

Now, new elections are likely. Until then, the remaining coalition parties have the option to remain as a minority government but they are not expected to do so. The coalition took nearly six months to form and has struggled to reach consensus on government policy ever since it took office last July.