Coalition talks in the Netherlands have stalled as Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV, seeks firm commitments on his asylum proposals from his coalition partners. The meeting on Monday evening among Dilan Yesilgöz (VVD), Nicolien van Vroonhoven (NSC), Caroline van der Plas (BBB), and Wilders failed to produce a consensus, raising concerns about the stability of the government.
Wilders is demanding stricter border controls, the immediate return of asylum seekers at the borders, and a halt to the construction of new asylum centers. He also wants to evict status holders from asylum centers after fourteen weeks.
Yesilgöz criticized Wilders’ approach, calling it a “political circus,” and stated that many of the PVV’s points were already being implemented or could have been with more progress. She emphasized the VVD’s desire for quick and tangible results.
Van Vroonhoven reiterated that Wilders has the opportunity to submit his proposals through the Minister for Asylum and Migration, who is a member of the PVV.
Wilders expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the meeting, stating that it “was not a pleasant conversation” and that it did not appear that the coalition partners were willing to sign his proposals. He insisted on receiving concrete guarantees.
The coalition partners will continue discussions on Tuesday, and Wilders will reiterate his demands. He warned that if he does not receive commitments, he will have difficulty justifying the coalition to his supporters, implying a potential withdrawal of support.
The proposals face significant challenges, as many may conflict with national asylum law and international treaties, potentially violating previous agreements.
The NSC, in particular, has reservations about Wilders’ asylum proposals. Sources within the NSC indicated that Van Vroonhoven will not sign anything at this time, and similar sentiments were reported from the VVD faction.
The stakes are particularly high for BBB and NSC, which have seen a decline in voter support according to recent surveys. Early elections could threaten their current positions of power.