by Bart H. Meijer
AMSTERDAM, May 15 (Reuters) – The Netherlands is close to an agreement on the formation of a new government, which could be sealed as early as Wednesday, said far-right leader Geert Wilders, who emerged as the winner of the elections legislative elections of November 22.
According to the outlines of the agreement, Wilders’ PVV (Party for Freedom) would ally with the VVD (center-right) of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the NSC (centrist) and the rural party BBB, within a coalition with a majority of 88 seats in the lower house of Parliament, which has 150 seats.
“We cannot fail,” Geert Wilders assured journalists shortly after midnight, after sixteen hours of negotiations during which the parties said they had reached an agreement on public finances.
Since his party’s victory, Geert Wilders has struggled to form a coalition government in the face of the reluctance of some to collaborate with the PVV and divisions over migration or budgetary policy.
The leader of the PVV, known for his remarks against immigrants and Islam, said he was ready in March to give up the post of Prime Minister in order to facilitate negotiations.
No details of the government pact have yet been announced but observers expect the new government to impose stricter policies on asylum and immigration.
Geert Wilders has also promised to invest massively in health and lower the retirement age but due to budgetary constraints, other parties are unlikely to support all of these plans. (Reporting Bart Meijer and Anthony Deutsch; French version Kate Entringer, edited by Jean-Stéphane Brosse)
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