(The Hague) The newly formed right-wing government coalition in the Netherlands announced Thursday that it wanted to implement “the strictest asylum policies ever adopted”, with the possibility of leaving European rules, and promised to examine a transfer of the Dutch embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
The 26-page coalition agreement was validated early in the morning after six months of difficult negotiations between four parties, following the electoral victory of far-right leader Geert Wilders.
“Anyone who reads this document can see that a lot of things are going to change in the Netherlands,” Wilders told the press during the official presentation of the text.
He described as “historic” the fact that his party, the PVV, is now “at the center of power”, and assured that “the sun will shine again on the Netherlands”.
The agreement stipulates in particular that “concrete measures will be taken to move towards the strictest rules ever adopted on asylum, and the broadest package of measures ever taken to control migration”.
The signatories also write that they will send “as soon as possible” to the European Commission a request to be able to derogate (“opt-out”) from European asylum policy.
People without a valid residence permit will be expelled “by force if necessary”, adds the agreement, titled “hope, courage and pride”.
“Alternative policies”
In terms of foreign policy, the signatories commit that the Netherlands will be a “constructive partner” within the European Union, and support Ukraine “politically, militarily, financially and morally”.
The text also calls for examining the idea of transferring the Dutch embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as desired by the Israeli authorities who have made it their capital, a subject made even more sensitive by the ongoing conflict in the Strip. Gaza.
Most governments avoid discussing such a transfer before a final peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians who also claim the city as their capital, believing that this could prejudge the outcome of these negotiations.
“Taking into consideration solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and diplomatic interests, we will consider when the embassy can be moved to Jerusalem at an appropriate time,” it says.
The agreement also ensures that the Netherlands will continue to “adhere to existing agreements” on climate, but warns that “if we do not achieve the objectives, we will have alternative policies”.
The agreement was reached between four parties, Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV), the pro-farmer BBB party, the liberal VVD party and the new anti-corruption party NSC.
It is still unclear who will lead the coalition government and replace Mark Rutte, candidate for NATO Secretary General.
The name of former Education and Interior Minister Ronald Plasterk, who also played a key role in overseeing the early negotiations, is the one that is circulating the most.
A senior civil servant, Richard van Zwol, was appointed as a “trainer” responsible for supervising the constitution of a cabinet, but without the vocation to be a candidate to lead the government.
The far right has made progress in Europe in recent elections and in the run-up to June’s European vote, but has struggled to come to power amid the refusal of other parties to work with it.
“It’s a worrying day. We now have a radical right party under the leadership of Mr. Wilders that finds itself at the center of power in the Netherlands,” said Frans Timmermans, opposition leader and member of the Greens-Greens alliance. left.