Far-right PVV quits Dutch government over asylum policy dispute

The Dutch far-right Party of Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, has withdrawn from the coalition government, triggering its collapse over a dispute on asylum policy.

Wilders announced the decision Tuesday morning on social media platform X. He cited a lack of support for his ten-point asylum plan. The proposal included a complete asylum stop, a freeze on building new asylum centres, and tighter rules on family reunification. 

After coalition talks failed to produce agreement, Wilders declared: “No signature for our asylum plans. No amendment to the coalition deal. PVV leaves the coalition.”

“The PVV promised voters the strictest asylum policy ever”, Wilders told reporters on Tuesday morning. When his coalition partners refused to sign up to the plans, “I had no choice but to say: We rescind support for this Cabinet,” he said.

The move came after weeks of growing tension. On Sunday, Wilders had threatened to exit the government if at least six of his proposals were not accepted. Attempts by prime minister Dick Schoof to salvage the talks on Tuesday morning were unsuccessful.

The coalition consisted of the PVV, the conservative NSC, the agrarian BBB, and the centre-right VVD. Coalition partners expressed anger and disbelief. VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz said she was “furious”. BBB’s Caroline van der Plas called it a “reckless kamikaze act”, while NSC’s Nicolien van Vroonhoven labelled the collapse “irresponsible”.

The government’s collapse comes at a critical moment, just weeks ahead of a crucial NATO summit in The Hague, where member states are expected to commit to increased defense spending. Dutch NATO chief Mark Rutte has urged allies to set a target of allocating five percent of their GDP to defense by 2032.

^{PVV’s Geert Wilders © Robin van Lonkhuijsen / ANP / AFP}