VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz insists she has no regrets about the VVD’s participation in the right-wing cabinet, asserting that the party was largely in agreement with Geert Wilders’ PVV on asylum policies. According to Yesilgöz, the coalition’s collapse wasn’t due to disagreements on asylum, but rather Wilders’ decision to withdraw.

During a parliamentary debate, Yesilgöz refuted claims that the VVD, NSC, and BBB opposed a stricter asylum policy championed by Wilders. She argued that the VVD and PVV were “basically in agreement” on Wilders’ ten-point plan, finding common ground in the VVD’s election program and the coalition agreement.

However, Yesilgöz faced scrutiny regarding the cabinet’s ultimate failure on the asylum issue. JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans questioned why Wilders’ plan wasn’t simply signed if such agreement existed. CDA leader Bontenbal suggested Yesilgöz was not being entirely honest about the reasons for the cabinet’s collapse. He pressed her on whether the VVD supported evicting status holders from asylum centers, a measure Yesilgöz conceded the VVD did not support.

Despite admitting to differences on certain aspects, Yesilgöz maintained that the VVD did not consider Wilders’ asylum plans to be excessive. She stated that three parties had assured Wilders they were not politically blocking the plans and emphasized her commitment to submitting a motion on asylum plans.

Yesilgöz accused Wilders of being “done with” governing and “abandoning all right-wing voters.”

Meanwhile, the successor to asylum minister Marjolein Faber can expect to continue with the asylum policy. Wilders affirmed his support for continuing the asylum policy of the caretaker cabinet-Schoof, expressing hope that Faber’s replacement will proceed with pending legislative proposals.

Frans Timmermans, leader of GroenLinks-PvdA, criticized the VVD for partnering with Wilders, questioning why the party didn’t anticipate Wilders’ potential to “evade his responsibility,” urging the VVD to clarify whether they would exclude the PVV from future coalitions.

Caretaker Prime Minister Schoof addressed the Chamber, requesting leeway to continue work on international security (Ukraine and defense), the reaction to threatening trade tariffs, the Groningen recovery operation and the benefits affair.