Anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders announced on Thursday that he would not pursue his aspirations to become prime minister in order to facilitate the formation of a right-wing ruling coalition in the Netherlands. Despite his party winning the most seats in the November election, Wilders stated that he did not have the full support of all three parties he is negotiating with.
Wilders expressed his disappointment at having to sacrifice his leadership ambitions, emphasizing that he prioritized the national interest and the support of his voters over his own position. His Party for Freedom secured 37 seats in the 150-seat lower house of the Dutch parliament, making it the largest party.
The four parties involved in the government talks hold a combined 88 seats, giving them a comfortable majority. While Wilders' party continues to gain support in post-election polls, he acknowledged that he made the decision to step aside in order to advance most of his agenda through a right-wing Cabinet.
Despite the frustration among some of his supporters who expected him to become prime minister, Wilders emphasized the importance of forming a coalition that can effectively govern and deliver results for the Netherlands. He noted that only the leader of the Farmer Citizen Movement fully supported his bid for the premiership.
The coalition talks, overseen by former Labor Party senator Kim Putters, have been ongoing for weeks. Putters is expected to present a report to parliament detailing the negotiations between Wilders' party, the center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the Farmer Citizen Movement, and the centrist New Social Contract.
Lawmakers are set to review the findings next week as they navigate the next steps in the coalition formation process. Wilders' decision to step aside reflects the complexities of Dutch politics and the challenges of building consensus among diverse political factions.
