Nationalist Geert Wilders announces withdrawal from Dutch governing coalition

In Europe, Dutch right-wing leader Geert Wilders on Tuesday withdrew his party, the PVV, from the government coalition due to a disagreement over migration, opening the way for early elections in the Netherlands.

"There is no signature for our plans on asylum.... The PVV is leaving the government coalition," Wilders said on the social network X, alluding to his program to toughen policy toward migrants and asylum seekers.

After winning the November 2023 legislative elections, the conservative Party for Freedom (PVV) had the most MPs in the fragile ruling coalition.

In late May, Wilders, also known as the "Dutch Trump," already threatened to exit the coalition if his strict demands on migration were not met.

The far-right leader then said that “our patience is running out” due to the failure to implement the ten-point plan he had presented.

This plan includes closing borders to asylum seekers, tightening border controls and deporting people with dual nationality who have been convicted of a crime.

With 37 seats out of 150 seats in parliament, the PVV is the leading party in the coalition.

Dick Schoof, a former intelligence chief, was sworn in as prime minister in July 2024, heading a right-wing coalition government tasked with implementing the country's "strictest" migration policy ever.