Dutch Government Collapses After Geert Wilders Freedom Party Withdraws

What Happened?

Dutch politician Geert Wilders announced the withdrawal of the Freedom Party from the Netherland’s governing coalition, effectively ending the current government. The move will likely trigger snap elections in Netherlands, though the dates have yet to be announced.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof had made a last-ditch effort to appeal to coalition party leaders on Tuesday morning, but the meeting lasted less than one minute before Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders walked out.

Mr. Wilders later posted on X, ‘No signature for our asylum plans. PVV leaves the coalition.’

Why it Matters

The collapse of the governing coalition has temporarily plunged the Netherlands into political chaos. Until snap elections are held, which could be several months, the Netherlands will have only a caretaker government, which will not be able to make key budget decisions, including a pending increase in defense spending to meet NATO requirements. 

At the heart of the political discord in the Dutch government is the issue of immigration. The right-wing Freedom Party has sought to place more stringent restrictions on immigration to the Netherlands, and there is a reason why immigration has come to the forefront of Dutch politics. 

In the past decade, waves of immigrants from the Middle East have arrived in Europe, driven out by war. The Syrian civil war alone sent some two million refugees fleeing towards Europe. While many fled to Turkey, an equal number have sought refuge in European countries like the Netherlands. Beginning in 2022, the war in Ukraine added tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees into the mix. 

The resulting influx of migrants has caused a host of problems for European nations, including the Netherlands. Migrants often congregate in large communities where they speak their native language and continue the cultural practices of their homelands. In addition, areas packed with migrants have become places where unemployment and crime are high. The huge numbers of migrants strained government programs and triggered a popular backlash, which helped the Freedom Party increase its numbers in the Dutch government.

Yet critics claim the move by Mr. Wilders was a mistake. According to the British Broadcast Corporation, there was widespread anger among Dutch political leaders. Many of whom pointed out that most of Wilders' demands are similar to policies already in the coalition agreement, and that they would not stand in the Freedom Party’s way to implement them.

By paralyzing the government at a time when the Netherlands is undergoing rapid changes, Mr. Gilders risks incurring popular anger for shutting down the government. 

How it Affects You

Right wing parties have been on the rise across Europe; a trend illustrated most recently by the victory in Poland’s Presidential elections by Karol Nawrocki. Mr. Wilders has gambled that his Freedom Party can seize the majority in the upcoming snap elections, which would certainly be a significant victory for the political right in Europe. But if Dutch voters blame him for shutting down the government, Mr. Wilders move could turn into a setback for the political right in the European Union.