Dutch government collapses after far-right leader Wilders quits coalition

4 Jun 2025 2:30 AM

People sit on a bench with a view of the parliament building, ahead of the elections across 27 European Union member states, of which the Netherlands is the first country to go to the polls in this round of elections to the bloc’s parliament, in the Hague, Netherlands, June 5, 2024. REUTERS/File Photo

THE HAGUE, June 3 – The Dutch government collapsed on Tuesday, most likely ushering in a snap election, after anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders quit the right-wing coalition, accusing other parties of failing to back his tougher immigration policies.

But Prime Minister Dick Schoof, an independent, accused the political maverick of irresponsibility, and the other coalition parties denied failing to support Wilders, saying they had been awaiting proposals from his PVV party’s own migration minister.

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders speaks to the media following his decision to leave the governing coalition, in The Hague, Netherlands, June 3, 2025. REUTERS

PVV ministers will quit the cabinet, leaving the others to continue as a caretaker administration until an election unlikely to be held before October.

REUTERS