Dutch VVD leader rules out coalition with far-right PVV

THE HAGUE - Dilan Yesilgoz, leader of the Dutch People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), said on Monday that her party will not enter into a new coalition government with Geert Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) ahead of the upcoming elections.

"Our country needs mature leadership in difficult times," Yesilgoz said in a statement on the VVD's website. "A stable, right-wing liberal cabinet is needed. That can only happen without Geert Wilders. Without the PVV."

The announcement came after the PVV abruptly withdrew from the Dutch government on June 3, following a dispute over asylum policy. Wilders claimed he could no longer deliver on his promise to implement "the strictest asylum policy ever", and pulled the PVV out.

However, the VVD, along with coalition partners New Social Contract (NSC) and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), contested Wilders' explanation. They argued there was no disagreement at all and that Wilders just wanted to step out.

With her decision to exclude future cooperation with Wilders, Yesilgoz followed the precedent set by her predecessor, Mark Rutte. In 2012, Wilders withdrew support for Rutte's minority government with the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), prompting Rutte to rule out working with Wilders in a coalition with Wilders, a stance he maintained through three successive governments.

The next general elections in the Netherlands are scheduled for Oct 29 this year. In the previous elections, held on Nov 22, 2023, the PVV emerged as the largest party for the first time in Dutch history, winning 37 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives. The GreenLeft-Labor alliance GroenLinks-PvdA came in second with 25 seats, the VVD third with 24, and the NSC took 20 seats.

The coalition government, comprising PVV, NSC, VVD, and BBB, was officially formed on July 2, 2024, under the leadership of Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

The Dutch four-party coalition government collapsed last week after Wilders withdrew the PVV from the ruling alliance. Schoof now serves as caretaker prime minister.