The Dutch right-wing populist Wilders wants to govern. He is mild and wants to be “Prime Minister for all Dutch people”. But other parties have great doubts. And he received his first rejection.
The Hague dpa – After the triumphant election victory of right-wing populist Geert Wilders, the poker game to form a government has begun in the Netherlands. It will be a difficult search for a coalition with a majority.
The right winger Wilders (60) had to receive his first rejection straight away. The right-wing liberal ruling party VVD of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte refused to take part in a government again after 13 years. This makes it almost impossible for Wilders to find a stable right-wing majority. He can now move towards a minority government supported by the VVD.
The radical right-wing anti-Islam party PVV won 37 of the 150 parliamentary seats in Wednesday’s election. The VVD lost ten mandates and gained 24 seats, still behind the red-green alliance, which won 25 seats. At least three parties are needed for a majority.
VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz justified her party’s rejection with the huge losses in the election. “The voter said: VVD, sit out a round.” But she is ready to make a “coalition of winners” possible. “We will support constructive suggestions.”
Forming a government over months?
Wilders was disappointed. No wonder, because Yesilgöz initially signaled his willingness to talk. “That doesn’t make things any easier,” said Wilders. “The formation of a government may now take months.”
First, an explorer was commissioned to explore the chances for a coalition. The talks are scheduled to start on Monday.
There is now another important partner for Wilders: the recently founded New Social Contract (NSC) by the former Christian Democrat Pieter Omtzigt, who immediately won 20 mandates. Omtzigt had ruled out a coalition with Wilders during the election campaign, but indicated a willingness to talk on election night: Now we have to “jump over his shadow.” However, this jump would have to be huge for Omtzigt.
Both could quickly come to an agreement on the big topic of migration. The NSC also wants a quota for immigration. But there are fundamental differences. Omtzigt took office with the promise of a new leadership culture, greater importance for the Basic Law and the rule of law. This is difficult to reconcile with the PVV, which wants to ban the Koran and mosques and close borders to asylum seekers. The PVV wants to leave the EU and end climate protection.
Wilders was mild: “We will stay within the framework of the Basic Law,” he promised. “We all have to make compromises. I will also be honest.” But many wonder what these words are worth. On election night he had promised his supporters that he would stop the “asylum tsunami” and “give the Netherlands back to the Dutch.”
The left-liberal Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag said that Wilders had been excluding, discriminating and insulting people for around 20 years. “He can pretend to be Mother Teresa now, but he still has a long way to go.”
Wilders must now succeed in retaining Omtzigt and then securing the support of the VVD. He doesn’t have to count on the opposition. The left-wing parties in particular, especially the Social Democrats, Greens and D66, want to lead a tough opposition.
houses of Parliament
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
