The Dutch cabinet has collapsed after PVV leader Geert Wilders withdrew his party from the coalition, leading to a flurry of reactions from other political leaders and uncertainty about the future of the government. Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed that there will be no restart of the cabinet and that new elections are likely to be held in November.
The immediate aftermath sees the PVV ministers and state secretaries being temporarily replaced by members of the remaining coalition parties: VVD, NSC, and BBB. Opposition parties are demanding explanations for the cabinet’s fall, and discussions are underway to identify “controversial” subjects that will be put on hold until a new government is formed.
NSC leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven stated that her party would not enter into a coalition with Wilders’ PVV again, expressing long-held reservations about working with the party. This marks a shift from the previous coalition, where NSC initially joined despite concerns about Wilders’ views. Meanwhile, VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz, while expressing hesitation, did not rule out future collaboration with the PVV.
The collapse has triggered strong reactions from within the government. Vice-Premier Mona Keijzer (BBB) accused Wilders of putting himself first and betraying the Netherlands. Other ministers echoed this sentiment, criticizing Wilders for being irresponsible and quitting at a crucial time.
The call for new elections is growing, with Yeşilgöz joining Wilders and Frans Timmermans (GL-PvdA) in advocating for them to be held “as soon as possible.” However, NSC and BBB are hinting at the possibility of a minority cabinet, aiming to avoid elections that could negatively impact their standing in the polls.
Former State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie expressed her desire to remain in the caretaker cabinet and indicated that her political future lies outside of the PVV, signaling further divisions and shifts in the political landscape. The rapid fall of the cabinet, just 336 days after taking office, marks it as one of the shortest-lived in Dutch history, adding to the sense of political instability and uncertainty.