On Tuesday, the Dutch government experienced a historic self-inflicted political crisis. When the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) withdrew from the ruling coalition, it caused the government’s collapse. With this latest compromise, Geert Wilders and the PVV have prepared for their exit from the coalition. Above all, they are upset that the coalition continues to reject supporting their 10-point plan on curbing immigration.
On Sunday, Geert Wilders had a particularly ominous warning. He even proclaimed that the PVV should walk out of the coalition if their proposed asylum reforms were not given appropriate attention. On that subject, a highly controversial 10-point plan dropped last week. It contained provisions to prevent asylum applications from being processed and to temporarily terminate family reunifications for asylum seekers who had already been granted refugee status. In her opening statement, Wilders stressed the urgency of these proposals. He demanded that they have to be incorporated into the Main Lines Agreement and implemented as soon as possible.
Wilders announced on the X social media platform that the PVV will leave the coalition if at least 9 of the proposals of the ten-point asylum plan won’t be accepted. He pointedly focused on the necessity of these proposals making their way into the Main Lines Agreement and adopted by the cabinet and implemented as quickly as possible.
The dissatisfaction over immigration policies reflects a broader trend in European politics, where immigration has become a polarizing issue. After the provisional results of the European Parliament elections on June 6, 2024, Wilders’ media appearance in The Hague went viral. He focused on his party’s self-interested cries for tougher immigration enforcement.
Dick Schoof, former head of the Netherlands’ intelligence service, appointed prime minister. This announcement is particularly striking given the recent collapse of the government. His appointment comes amidst ongoing discussions about immigration reform, which remain a pressing concern for many voters in the Netherlands.
The PVV’s departure is a watershed moment for Dutch politics. The party went all in on an anti-immigration agenda. They positioned themselves to accommodate the growing mood of voters hungry for a tougher line on borders.
Photographers Emiel Muijderman, AFP, and Getty Images deftly documented the rare moments in the spotlight as Geert Wilders navigated this political crisis. Their creative effort powerfully captures the increased risk and tensions for activists and advocates after the election.