The Netherlands’ government has collapsed, after its far-right party withdrew from the coalition amid an immigration policy dispute.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof has resigned his cabinet to King Willem-Alexander. Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom pushed for the coalition to adopt a plan to halt asylum opportunities and deport all Syrian refugees, and left the government after other parties refused.
“We have decided that there is now insufficient support for this government,” said Schoof, who also called Wilders’ decision to leave the coalition “irresponsible and unnecessary." “As far as I'm concerned, this shouldn't have happened.”
“There is a war on our continent. Instead of meeting the challenge, Wilders is showing he is not willing to take responsibility,” said Dilan Yesilgoz, leader of the conservative coalition member People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy.
Snap elections will likely be held in October, with outgoing ministers acting as a caretaker government until that time.
While the Party for Freedom won the most parliamentary seats in the 2023 elections, Wilders failed to secure support to become prime minister or a cabinet member. The Party for Freedom then entered into a coalition with the conservative parties Farmer-Citizen Movement, People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, and New Social Contract, with the independent Schoof selected as prime minister.
Wilders’ 10-point immigration plan offered to the coalition last week would have ended asylum opportunities, closed asylum facilities, deported all Syrians in the Netherlands on temporary visas or applying for asylum, and dispatched the government to control the country's borders. Several of Wilders’ proposals would violate European Union human rights laws.
Wilders is known for his hardline anti-migration and anti-Islamic policies, and has previously proposed closing all mosques in the Netherlands. He was convicted of hate speech in 2016.
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