Far-right leader Geert Wilders pulls support from Netherlands coalition government

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his party’s support, leading to a possible collapse of the coalition government in the Netherlands, he said on Tuesday, June 3.

The decision came due to disagreements over the asylum plans for the country and the government, led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, not signing the proposed plans.

“No signature for our asylum plans. No changes to the Main Outline Agreement. PVV leaves the coalition,” Wilders wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Geen handtekening voor onze asielplannen.

Geen aanpassing Hoofdlijnenakkoord.

PVV verlaat de coalitie.

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) June 3, 2025

Wilders announced the decision after a short meeting with the leaders of the four-party Dutch coalition. He told reporters that he was taking this step to save the Netherlands from a downfall, as per The Associated Press.

“I signed up for the toughest asylum policy and not the downfall of the Netherlands,” Wilders said.

Wilders’ party won the last election after it made pledges to stop migration, including the illegal migrants from Muslim countries.

Seen as anti-Muslim populist, Wilders demanded immediate support for his party’s proposal to stop the asylum migration completely, as per Reuters. He had asked that the Syrian refugees should be sent back to their home country.

What lies next for the Netherlands? 

New elections are likely to be held in the Netherlands in a few months, as per Reuters. However, Wilders’ decision will add political uncertainty in the Euro zone’s fifth-largest economy.

The Hague is also scheduled to host the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Summit on June 24-25. Wilders’ decision can impact the possible discussions on increasing the defence spendings in the meeting.

As per Reuters, his decision will leave the country with a caretaker government while receiving the NATO leaders.

Wilders has reportedly lost support since joining the government. Recent polls put his party, Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) or The Party for Freedom in English, roughly alongside the Labour/Green combination which is second-largest in the Dutch parliament as of now, reported Reuters.

Political leaders shocked and angry

Dilan Yesilgöz, leader of the right-wing People’s Party for Freedom and democracy said that before the meeting, Schoof had urged the leaders to act responsibly, reported AP.

“The prime minister who appealed to us this morning said that we are facing enormous international challenges, we have a war on our continent, an economic crisis may be coming our way,” Yesilgöz told reporters in parliament.

“I’m shocked,” Yesilgöz said, calling Wilders’ decision “super-irresponsible.”

Caroline van der Plas, leader of the pro-agriculture populist Farmers Citizenz Movement said that she was annoyed with Wilders’ decision.

“He is not putting the Netherlands first, he is putting Geert Wilders first,” she told Dutch broadcaster NOS, as per AP.

First Published: 

Jun 3, 2025 1:37 PM

IST