by Toby Sterling and Bart H. Meijer
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch political party leaders met on Friday for the first time since the victory of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, in the parliamentary elections, to to begin the formation of a government coalition which promises to be difficult.
Defying all predictions, the PVV won 37 seats out of 150 in the vote held on Wednesday, far ahead of the 25 seats obtained by the left alliance led by former European Commissioner Frans Timmermans and the 24 seats of the Liberal Party (VVD). of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Geert Wilders confirmed to Dutch media on Thursday his intention to head a future government and organize a referendum on a possible exit of the Netherlands from the European Union (EU), of which they are founding members.
The radical positions of Geert Wilders, a fierce critic of the EU and Islam, are rejected by the other parties with whom he will be forced to come to an agreement if he wants to form a government coalition.
Geert Wilders will have to convince at least two or three parties to join him in order to create a government. The VVD and the New Social Contract (NSC), a nascent centrist party, are the most likely candidates.
Both parties are largely pro-European and have explicitly stated that the issue of EU membership is non-negotiable, as is respect for religious freedom and the rule of law, if they were to form the first Dutch government led by the far right.
Arriving at the meeting on Friday, VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz told reporters that her party would not join a far-right government, but would consider offering it external support.
“However, we will act to make a center-right government possible,” she said. “We will support constructive proposals.”
Geert Wilders described this refusal as “very disappointing”.
NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt said his election night remarks had been misinterpreted as a guarantee that he was ready to join a coalition led by Geert Wilders.
“From what I see, I dare say it’s not going to be the easiest training we’ve ever had,” he said.
Party leaders met on Friday with Parliament President Vera Bergkamp, who deemed the discussions “constructive”. Gom van Strien, PVV senator, was appointed as an “explorer” to consult the different parties on coalition prospects.
(Reporting Toby Sterling and Bart Meijer, French version Nathan Vifflin and Augustin Turpin, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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