The government challenges the collapse and continues its asylum plans
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed that the government will continue to push for new laws to restrict asylum, despite the collapse of the ruling coalition after the withdrawal of the far-right PVV party led by Geert Wilders. Schoof stated that "decisiveness is necessary" to face "significant challenges both domestically and internationally," referring to immigration, the war in Ukraine, and the tariff policies pursued by Donald Trump.
Despite the withdrawal of the PVV, the government will continue to operate as a caretaker government until the expected elections in October. Parliament will determine the 'controversial' topics that will be postponed until a new government is formed, but the majority has agreed to continue making decisions related to immigration by the remaining parties in the coalition, which are VVD, NSC, and BBB.
Henry Bontempaal, leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), pointed out the need to scrutinize any bill, adding: "It will be difficult to determine what can be achieved." In contrast, the leader of the NSC party, Nicolien van Vroonhoven, announced that her party would not support the repeal of the "Distribution Law" which requires local authorities to accept a minimum number of asylum seekers, a key demand of the PVV.
The parliamentary debate witnessed tension after the withdrawal of PVV ministers from the government, following the rejection by the other three parties of Wilders' 10-point plan to implement what he described as the "harshest" asylum policy ever. Wilders stated, "We had no choice but to leave. We had to maintain our dignity." Despite this, Wilders affirmed his continued support for Ukraine, considering that "the extent of that support should be reconsidered."
Dilan Yeşilgöz, the leader of the VVD party, accused Wilders of exploiting the dispute over asylum to escape his responsibilities, adding: "He was not looking for our signatures, but for an exit." Yeşilgöz faced criticism from the leader of the leftist GroenLinks-PvdA party, Frans Timmermans, for her alliance with the PVV despite her promise to remain in opposition after the elections. Timmermans said: "This right-wing coalition that you praised has achieved nothing for the Netherlands."
Yeshilgoz accused Timmermans of being disconnected from the concerns of citizens, stating: "Since his return to Dutch politics, I have not heard him talk about the suffering of people and the reasons for their voting in this way." She confirmed that she does not regret joining the government with the PVV, "because it was the only way to achieve something tangible."