Dutch centrist party rules out joining coalition with Wilders

By Bart H. Meijer

AMSTERDAM – The Dutch political party NSC announced on Monday that it will not partner in a new coalition government with the nationalist Freedom Party (PVV), led by anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders, citing irreconcilable differences.

This decision by NSC—a centrist party that gained 20 seats in the recent election won by Wilders—effectively prevents the establishment of a right-wing government that would hold a parliamentary majority.

Coalition discussions were already in disarray last week when NSC unexpectedly withdrew, leaving the remaining potential coalition partners to navigate their next steps.

A report from Ronald Plasterk, the intermediary managing the negotiations, clarified that NSC has no intention of joining any government with the PVV due to significant differences regarding the rule of law.

Wilders received a quarter of the votes in the election and requires the support of other parties to make a viable coalition.

Since late November, he has been negotiating with NSC, the centre-right VVD of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and the farmers’ protest party BBB, yet there has been no indication that a deal is nearing completion.

The talks were complicated from the beginning, as both NSC and VVD expressed serious reservations about collaborating with Wilders, whose agenda includes proposals to shut down mosques and prohibit the Koran in the Netherlands.

Despite Wilders’ assurances that he would abandon plans that could violate the Dutch constitution, as outlined in Plasterk’s report, the NSC found his commitments insufficient.

"Given past comments and the PVV’s election program, the gap remains too wide to join a majority or minority government," NSC stated.

The PVV, VVD, and BBB may now consider forming a minority government, which NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt indicated he could support from outside the coalition.

The Lower House of Parliament will convene on Wednesday to discuss the next steps in the government formation process.