Dutch government falls apart due to immigration disagreement
(MENAFN) The Dutch government has unraveled following a major dispute over immigration policy, with Geert Wilders announcing the withdrawal of his Party for Freedom (PVV) from the ruling coalition.
Wilders, whose right-wing PVV emerged as the largest party in the 2023 parliamentary elections, stated on Tuesday that the party would exit the four-party coalition after his proposed immigration reforms were rejected by coalition partners. He confirmed that he had informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof of the PVV ministers’ resignation.
“No agreement on our asylum plans. PVV leaves the coalition,” Wilders declared on X (formerly Twitter).
The crisis was triggered after Wilders unveiled a controversial ten-point migration plan aimed at drastically curbing immigration, escalating tensions within the government. Speaking to reporters, Wilders said, “I signed up for the toughest asylum policy—not for the downfall of the Netherlands.”
Although all four ruling parties had previously endorsed a May 2024 deal promising the strictest asylum and migration controls in Dutch history, Wilders pushed for even harsher measures. His plan included suspending asylum applications, halting family reunification for recognized refugees, deporting Syrians residing on temporary permits, and shutting down asylum centers.
Legal experts have warned that several aspects of Wilders’ proposal would likely violate both EU human rights laws and the UN Refugee Convention, to which the Netherlands is a signatory.
Wilders' PVV, known for its anti-Islam stance and past proposals to ban the Quran and Islamic schools, made a historic breakthrough in the November 2023 elections. Despite being long excluded from governance by mainstream parties, the PVV formed a coalition with the center-right VVD, the populist Farmer Citizen Movement (BBB), and the New Social Contract (NSC) after over six months of negotiations.
Together, the coalition held a comfortable majority with 88 out of 150 seats in the Dutch House of Representatives. The PVV’s departure now throws the government into political uncertainty.
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