Amsterdam: On Thursday, firebrand anti-Islam figure Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), finalized a coalition agreement with three other party leaders, marking a significant step towards forming the next Dutch government. This culmination came after months of tumultuous negotiations, during which the identity of the next Dutch Prime Minister remained undecided. Despite aiming for a resounding victory in the November elections last year, Wilders conceded that he would not be succeeding Mark Rutte as PM due to prolonged delays in reaching a coalition agreement.
Details of the coalition deal
After extensive negotiations spanning several months, four parties have joined forces to create this victorious coalition. The participating parties include the Party for Freedom (PVV), the New Social Contract party (NSC), the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), and Democracy (VVD). Within this coalition, the PVV party is set to assume a leading role.
Possible agendas of the new govt.
Wilders celebrated what he labeled “a historic day,” asserting victory and declaring that he had ensured the acceptance of the core elements of his program by the three other coalition parties. He emphasized achieving “the strictest asylum policy ever” and expressed determination to return the Dutch to a leading position. He reiterated his campaign theme, highlighting concerns about immigrants and asylum seekers receiving what he perceived as preferential treatment over others.
The new government also confirmed its commitment to providing political and military backing to Ukraine while committing to enshrine in law the obligation to allocate a minimum of 2% of Dutch gross domestic product to defense, aligning with NATO agreements. Additionally, it intends to persist with ongoing initiatives to address climate change, which encompasses maintaining financial support for a climate change fund established the previous year.
Confusion remains over PM candidate
Geert Wilders, the leader of the PVV, who secured 25% of the vote in the election last November, informed journalists in the late afternoon that an agreement had been reached on a “negotiators’ accord.”
However, he stated that the question of who would assume the role of prime minister would be addressed at a later time.
Anti-Islam and Anti-immigration view
Wilders is also called the ‘Donald Trump of the Netherlands‘ due to his anti-Islam views. In the past, he has described Islam as a “fascist ideology” and even supported banning the Quran and shutting mosques in the country. and interestingly he openly criticized the immigration system in Netherlands, and he is against immigration. He is not in favor of the Netherlands being part of the EU and being inspired by the UK.
He has a grand plan for the Netherlands to exist in the EU. Furthermore, he calls it NEXIT.
Pro-Hindu view
Remarkably, he is pro-Hindu and has in the past supported suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma in his statement related to the ‘prophet Mohammad’.
He had said, “Nupur Sharma is a hero who spoke nothing but the truth. The whole world should be proud of her. She deserves the Nobel Prize. And because India is a Hindu nation, the Indian government is obliged to strongly defend Hindus against Islamic hate and violence.”
