Dutch government in turmoil as Wilders exits coalition over migration demands

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders has announced that his Party for Freedom (PVV) is withdrawing from the governing coalition following a sharp disagreement over migration policy.

In a post on social media platform X, Wilders declared, “No signature under our asylum plans. The PVV leaves the coalition.” The move comes just days after he issued a firm ultimatum to his coalition partners to adopt his hardline migration proposals or face the collapse of the cabinet.

“The gloves are off,” Wilders warned during a press conference on June 2, where he unveiled a 10-point plan aimed at radically cutting migration. He made it clear that if the coalition failed to back his demands, “our party is out of the cabinet.”

The controversial plan called for a complete freeze on asylum, a halt to family reunification for those granted refugee status, and the return of all Syrian asylum seekers and temporary visa holders. It also proposed shutting down existing asylum centers and evicting current residents to make space, rather than expanding shelter capacity—something opposition parties and rights groups argue is essential to preventing overcrowding and unsafe conditions.

The proposal also included deploying the military to secure land borders and rejecting all new asylum applications.

Wilders’ PVV had surged to victory in the last election largely on promises to drastically reduce migration. But he has grown increasingly frustrated with what he sees as delays and resistance within the four-party coalition in adopting his platform.

On Tuesday, Wilders followed through on his threat and pulled PVV out of the coalition.

Caroline van der Plas, leader of the populist Farmers Citizens Movement and one of Wilders' coalition partners, strongly criticised the decision. Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, she said, “He is not putting the Netherlands first, he is putting Geert Wilders first.”

By Tamilla Hasanova