The far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders whose Freedom Party (PVV) shocked the world by winning the elections in Netherlands in 2023, admitted that he will not be the next Prime Minister of the country. Wilders reasoned that while his party garnered highest number of votes, it is still struggling to form a coalition government.
The Dutch politician took to social media platform X, to express his frustration. The populist party, the PVV won 37 seats which was well short of a majority in the 150 seat Parliament. “I can only be the Prime Minister only if all parties in the coalition support it. That was not the case. I would like a right-wing cabinet. Less asylum and immigration. Dutch on one. Wilders wrote on X (formally called Twitter).
“The love for my country and voter is great and more important than my own position,” he added. In a subsequent tweet, the Dutch politician expressed optimism of what lies ahead. “And don’t forget, I will still become the Prime minister of Netherlands. With support from more Dutch people. If not tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow. Because the voices of the millions of Dutch people will be heard, he wrote on March 14, 2024.
After Wilders won the November 2023 elections, he held talks with potential right-wing allies. However, many of his allies refused to form a coalition with him calling his manifesto pledged “extreme”. Amid the chaos, the centre-right NSC party, which Wilders needed to form the coalition government made it clear that it would not accept Wilders as the Prime ministerial face.
Last month, Pieter Omtzigt, the leader of the NSC party, walked out of talks about forming a coalition government with the PVV. Omtzigt called Wilders unconstitutional views on Islam and the Dutch leader spending proposal was “unaffordable”
After multiple failed coalition tasks, Wilders has vowed to put in the freezer his most controversial proposals such as the closure of mosques, and banning the Quran. However, he strongly condemned the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that has engulfed the country and continues to pursue his Dutch First rhetoric, a news media agency reported.
Wilders failure to become the prime minister is the latest of several setbacks, the far-right movement in Europe has witnessed recently. Last week, Portugal’s far-right Chega party has hit out at efforts by his mainstream rivals to keep it out of power after coming third in the recent general elections. Meanwhile in neighbouring Spain, the hard right Vox party that came third in the 2023 general elections failed to secure power.
