Dutch Populist Wilders Threatens Government Collapse Over Immigration Demands

Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) and the largest faction in the Dutch parliament, has threatened to withdraw from the coalition government unless his demands for stricter immigration controls are met within weeks. Wilders demands include closing the Dutch borders to asylum seekers, ending family reunifications, deploying the military to protect borders, and increasing deportations, particularly targeting migrants with dual citizenship convicted of crimes. Despite a previous coalition agreement promising the toughest immigration regime in Dutch history, Wilders criticizes the government's slow progress and insufficient reforms, noting legal challenges to proposed immigration drafts and upcoming EU obligations that complicate the issue. The coalition, formed after the November 2023 elections, includes the Farmer–Citizen Movement, New Social Contract, and the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, with a non-politician, Dick Schoof, as prime minister. Wilders’ ultimatum warns that failure to implement his ten-point plan could collapse the government and trigger new elections, reflecting ongoing tensions within the coalition over migration policy. This political crisis underscores the rising influence of populist demands in the Netherlands amid broader European debates on asylum and migration.