Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders appeared on Monday to have convinced his preferred partners for the formation of a coalition to continue discussing. But his Islamophobic and anti-EU positions are serious “stumbling blocks” to the negotiations, according to information leaked to the media.
After the surprise electoral victory of the far right, which sent shockwaves through the Netherlands and beyond, Mr Wilders appointed a “scout”, charged with shuttling between party leaders and determining who is willing to work with whom. He must submit a long-awaited report to Parliament during the day.
Ronald Plasterk, a former minister, has spoken intensively with Mr Wilders and other party leaders on the right, who are reluctant to join a coalition because of the party leader’s more sensitive views. Dutch far right.
In the highly fragmented Dutch political system, where no party is strong enough to govern alone, elections are generally followed by months of negotiations to form a government.
Parts of Mr Plasterk’s report were leaked by public broadcaster NOS and contain both good and bad news for Mr Wilders.
The good news: its preferred parties in the formation of a coalition have agreed to continue discussions.
The bad: these will start with three “stumbling blocks”, according to the NOS, which could derail the negotiations.
The first is the rule of law. It is not just the Islamophobic elements in Mr. Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) manifesto, but also his plan to hold a referendum on “Nexit”, the Netherlands’ exit from the EU.
Next, the parties will address the substantive questions: Can they agree on policies that could constitute a possible coalition deal?
Finally will come the formation of the government and the thorny question of whether Mr. Wilders can be prime minister after the comments he made on Muslims and the European Union.
“No one should be afraid of us,” he told journalists last week, during the swearing-in of the new deputies.
The PVV manifesto, in addition to “Nexit”, provides for the ban on mosques, scarves and the Koran, and the interruption of arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Mr Wilders toned down most of his more extreme comments during the campaign and pledged to become prime minister “of all Dutch people”, but doubts remain.
Only if the obstacles are overcome will substantive policy discussions begin — another long process — according to NOS.
” Red line “
Mr Wilders needs a coalition of 76 MPs in the 150-seat parliament to enjoy a viable government majority.
The leader of the PVV (37 seats) wants to form a coalition with the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB, seven seats), the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte (24 seats) and all new pro-reform party New Social Contract (NSC, 20 seats).
NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt, a champion of the fight against corruption, raised major objections to what he described as “unconstitutional” elements in Mr Wilders’ manifesto.
Mr. Omtzigt, who created his party in August and in whom many see a providential figure responsible for cleaning up Dutch politics marred by scandals, indicated that this was a “red line” for his formation.
During the negotiations, Mark Rutte will remain prime minister.
His last government collapsed last summer over internal disputes over immigration and he announced he was leaving politics after a record 13 years in office.
It took 271 days to form Mr Rutte’s last government, another record.