In the Netherlands, the hopes of the leader of the far right to become prime minister have dimmed: new elections are possible

Negotiations on a ruling coalition in Holland failed

Geert Wilders’ hopes of becoming Dutch prime minister are dimming after the centrist New Social Contract (NSC) party breaks off negotiations. The NSC’s Peter Omtzigt said he was shocked by the state of government finances and was abandoning talks to form a coalition led by the far-right leader.

Geert Wilders’ chances of forming a majority government in the Netherlands were dealt a major blow after one of the far-right leader’s three potential partners abruptly pulled out of coalition talks, citing concerns about public finances.

According to The Guardian, Geert Wilders, whose Party for Freedom (PVV) shocked Europe by finishing first in last November’s elections, told X that he was “incredibly disappointed” with the New Social Contract’s (NSC) decision to declare it “over”. current round of negotiations.

Center party leader Peter Omtzigt has not ruled out providing parliamentary support for the minority government, but appears to have ruled out any possibility of formally joining the proposed right-wing coalition, public broadcaster NOS reported.

Dutch media reported that Omtzigt, a former Christian Democratic MP who campaigned on a platform of “good governance” and “doing politics differently,” was shocked by confidential cabinet briefings on the state of public finances.

“The National Council does not intend to make promises to the Dutch people which they already know are empty and which cannot be fulfilled by the next government,” he said in a letter to party members. “Castles in the air are not the basis for a secure existence.”

Ronald Plasterk, the former minister mediating the talks, has already identified finance as a key stumbling block after economic experts warned the new coalition would need to find 17 billion euros in structural spending cuts.

Wilders’ party won a shocking 37 seats in the election, but fell far short of the 76 seats needed for a majority. His preferred coalition was the NSC, which won 20 seats, the agrarian party VVV (seven seats) and the center-right VVD party (24 seats).

The far-right leader has already promised to abandon unconstitutional measures in his manifesto, such as bans on mosques and the Koran, as well as proposals rejected by his potential partners, such as the “Nexit” referendum on leaving the European Union.

However, without the NSC, Wilders appears to have no chance of forming a majority government. “The Netherlands wants this cabinet and now Omtzigt is losing ground while we were still negotiating until today. I don’t understand this at all,” he said.

Dilan Ješilgez-Zegerius, who replaced outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte as leader of the VVD, said she was “very surprised” by Omtzigt’s decision, adding that she hoped the four parties could “soon sit down together to hear what exactly is going on here.” .

Caroline van der Plas of the populist BBB called the NSC leader’s departure “puzzling.”

If neither party can agree to form a coalition, new elections are possible, although polls show support for the PVV has increased since November.