The Government led by far-right IslamophobicGeert Wilders in the Netherlands is floundering before negotiations even begin. The candidate of People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), Dilan Yesilgözannounced by surprise this Friday that his party will not become part of a coalition government due to its poor electoral results: “We have 10 fewer seats; it is not appropriate to appoint ministers now.”
The leader of the liberals, belonging to the party of the still acting prime minister, Mark Rutte, has not refused to sit down to negotiate a center-right Government, but has assured that he does not want his party to be part of it, hiding behind the punishing vote it has received. Yes, he has opened himself up to allowing Parliament to form that Executive, but then remaining in the opposition.
In Wednesday’s elections, the extreme right of Wilders (PVV) got 37 seatshe VVD was third force with 24and the Christian Democrats of New Social Contract (NSC) they had 20 seats in the Low camera. Wilders intended to negotiate a coalition government between these three parties and the Peasant Movement (BBB, with seven deputies). By leaving Yesilgöz, an essential step is dropped for the historic leader of the Dutch far-right to be named prime minister.
The truth is the VVD has lost 10 seats after Rutte has been prime minister for the last 13 years. The rest of the formations of the outgoing Government have also suffered extensive setbacks, with which the Dutch have voted against the outgoing Executive.
As soon as he made his announcement public, it rained harsh criticism against the liberal candidate from the rest of the formations on the right and the center and also from his own party. Wilders has assured that this decision “is very disappointing” because “The Dutch want a center-right government“. Similarly, the leaders of the NSC or BBB have rejected this position because it “contradicts the result of the polls.”