Despite his party’s significant success in the 2023 elections, Dutch extremist leader Geert Wilders, head of the Freedom Party (PVV), has decided to withdraw from the race for prime minister, according to the BBC.
In a statement to X, Wilders said: “I can only become prime minister if ALL the parties in the coalition support it. This was not the case.”
He went on to say: “I would like a right-wing cabinet. Less asylum and immigration. Dutch on 1. Love for my country and voters is great and more important than my own position. I love NL.”
The Dutch PVV had to form a coalition with other parties despite being the single largest party at the end of the election. The conversation with the BBB (farmer parties BBB), NSC (New Social Contract) and VVD (right and center) seems to have stalled.
Wilders says a right-wing cabinet to deal with immigration and refugees is more important to him than his own goals. He declared that he was not serving himself but his nation.
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Negotiations with the other parties, despite all efforts, did not yield a compromise, and a parliamentary debate on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday.
In another statement, Wilders said on X: “And don’t forget: I will still become Prime Minister of the Netherlands. With the support of even more Dutch people. If not tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow. Because the voices of millions of Dutch people will be heard!”
Since the Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union, the choice of a 60-year-old politician has consequences not only for Dutch politics, but also for the rest of the EU. The outcome of the parliamentary debate will have a significant influence on the choice of the next prime minister, who is not yet known.
