VVD says it will not join the next Dutch government

The VVD, the Dutch liberal party of former Prime Minister Mark Rutte, has announced that it will not be part of the next government. Party leader Dilan Yesilgöz made the announcement on Friday in response to the election results, which saw the VVD lose ten seats. She also said the party might be willing to support a minority government made up of Geert Wilders' PVV and Pieter Omtzigt's NSC.

"The big winners are the PVV and the NSC," Yesilgöz said, according to NOS. "A different role suits us after 13 years. The voters also said: VVD, skip a round." She said she had also heard from other parties that they would prefer to form a government without the VVD.

"A different role suits us after 13 years. The voters said: VVD, skip a round."

Yesilgöz points out that the party lost 10 parliamentary seats in the elections. "That's almost a third and a signal from the voters. But again, we are not going to turn our backs on all the people who voted for us". She denies that this would make a right-wing formation more difficult. "I sincerely do not want to make anything more difficult, but rather to move forward with a constructive centre-right cabinet."

During the formation, the VVD wants to be at the negotiating table to give the future governing parties a "framework". And a right-wing minority government might be able to count on the VVD's support. Yesilgöz called that a "cabinet of winners".

Disappointed Wilders

PVV leader Geert Wilders called the decision "very disappointing" on X. "This does not make it any easier," Wilders added in an interview with Dutch media. "The formation could now take months."

The VVD's decision drastically reduces the options for a new Dutch government. On the right, BBB, NSC and and PVV do not have enough seats to form a majority. On the left, given the 76 required seats, it will be all but impossible to form a government.

PVV member Gom van Strien has been appointed "scout". He will now consult with all parties. On 5 December he will report to the House of Representatives, where the election results and van Strien's findings will be debated.

^{VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz. © Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP}