Dutch government on shaky grounds, after far-right party’s coalition exit

The Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, pulled his party out of the country’s four-party ruling coalition in a row over immigration and asylum policy.

This signals the imminent end of the Netherlands’ 11-month-old government, The Guardian reports.

Wilders, whose anti-Islam Freedom party (PVV) finished first in parliamentary elections in late 2023, said on Tuesday he had informed the prime minister, Dick Schoof, that all PVV ministers would leave the government.

The far-right leader had earlier announced on social media that since there had been “no sign-off on our asylum plans” the PVV was “leaving the coalition”.

He made the announcement after a brief meeting of the four party leaders in the alliance, sworn in only last July.

Wilders said the partners refused to adopt his 10-point plan for halting immigration for the purpose of seeking asylum, as he had demanded last week.

Legal experts have said several of the proposals are in breach of European human rights laws or the UN refugee convention, to which the Netherlands is a signatory.

Dilan Yeşilgöz, the leader of the liberal-conservative VVD party, a coalition member, said Schoof had urged the leaders to act responsibly before Tuesday’s meeting.

“The prime minister, who appealed to us this morning, said that we are facing enormous international challenges, we have a war on our continent, an economic crisis may be coming our way,” Yeşilgöz said.

She said she was “shocked” by Wilders’s decision, which she described as “super-irresponsible”.

Yeşilgöz added of the far-right leader: “We had a rightwing majority, and he lets it all go for his ego.

“He’s just doing what he wants.”

Another coalition party leader, Caroline van der Plas of the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), said she was very angry, and also called Wilders “irresponsible”.

Nicolien van Vroonhoven of the New Social Contract (NSC) said it was “incomprehensible”.

Wilders’s plan includes:

• enlisting the army to secure and patrol the borders,
• closing refugee accommodation facilities,
• sending all Syrian refugees home,
• suspending EU asylum quotas and,
• banning family members joining refugees already in the country.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, he warned at a press conference last week.

Wilders warned that if immigration policy was not toughened up by implementing the points on his list, the PVV, the largest party in parliament with 37 seats – would be “out of the cabinet”.

Schoof is expected to hand his resignation to King Willem-Alexander later on Tuesday, less than a month before the Netherlands is due to host a summit of Nato leaders in The Hague.

The recent withdrawal of Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) from the Dutch ruling coalition has significant implications for the Dutch government and the broader European political landscape.

Political Instability and Coalition Fragility

Wilders’ decision to exit the coalition, citing dissatisfaction with the government’s refusal to adopt his stringent immigration policies, has thrown Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s administration into crisis.

This move ends a fragile coalition formed in July 2024.

It also likely prompts new elections, exacerbating political uncertainty in the Netherlands, the eurozone’s fifth-largest economy.

The departure may delay defense spending and impact upcoming NATO summit hosting responsibilities.

Impact on Immigration Policy

Wilders had demanded a 10-point migration plan, including border militarization and turning away asylum seekers.

His exit underscores the increasing influence of far-right parties in Europe.

Leaders of the remaining coalition parties criticized Wilders for acting irresponsibly, arguing that meaningful immigration reforms were already underway.

Potential for New Elections

The political turmoil in the Netherlands mirrors rising far-right momentum and election volatility across Europe.

Opposition parties are calling for immediate elections, as continued governance without PVV is considered untenable.

Broader European Implications

Wilders’ move highlights the fragility of coalition governments and the disruptive power of far-right political actors in contemporary European politics.

The situation in the Netherlands may influence political dynamics in neighboring countries, potentially affecting EU policies on immigration and governance.

In summary, experts say that  Wilders’ exit from the Dutch government has precipitated a political crisis, with potential delays in policy implementation and a shift in the European political landscape.

Dutch Government Faces Crisis After Far-Right Party Withdraws

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