Dutch anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has abandoned his bid to become prime minister, despite his party's dramatic victory in the 2023 elections. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he stated: "I can only become prime minister if ALL parties in the coalition support it. That was not the case."
His Freedom Party (PVV) won the most votes last year but needed support from other parties to form a coalition. Talks continue with three other parties—the centre-right liberal VVD, New Social Contract (NSC), and the BBB farmers' party—on the shape of a new government. The negotiator leading the latest round of talks, which concluded on Tuesday, is due to share his report with parliament on Thursday.
Mr Wilders, 60, expressed his desire for a right-wing cabinet with less asylum and immigration, prioritising Dutch people. However, the leaders of the three other parties insisted this week that the only way forward was if all four party leaders agreed not to take a role in the government, according to Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
A parliamentary debate is expected on Thursday when the talks mediator, Kim Putters, presents his findings. He is expected to announce that the parties are prepared to form a minority government with an "extra-parliamentary cabinet," meaning none of the four party leaders would take ministerial posts but remain as MPs. Exactly who would be prime minister and serve in the cabinet remains unclear.
The last time a prime minister did not come from the largest party in the Dutch government was in the 1980s, and the last time a prime minister was not a leader of a governing party was in 1918, according to Dutch media. The PVV's victory last year shook Dutch politics and had repercussions across Europe, as the Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union.
