Netherlands veers sharply to right with new government as Geert Wilders strikes coalition deal
- Squabbling Dutch politicians finally clinch agreement on a coalition government
- Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders will not replace Mark Rutte as prime minister
Anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders and three other party leaders agreed on a coalition deal early on Thursday that veers the Netherlands toward the hard right, capping a half year of tumultuous negotiations that still left it unclear who will become prime minister.
The “Hope, courage and pride” agreement introduces strict measures on asylum seekers, scraps family reunification for refugees and seeks to reduce the number of international students studying in the country.
“Deport people without a valid residence permit as much as possible, even forcibly,” the 26-page document says.
Wilders cried victory on what he called “a historic day”, claiming he had made sure the three other coalition parties, including the one of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, had accepted the core of his programme.
“The strictest asylum policy ever,” Wilders exulted. “The Dutch back at No 1,” he added, insisting his campaign theme how immigrants and asylum seekers had all too often been granted preferential treatment over others.
With hard right and populist parties now part of or leading a half-dozen governments in the 27-nation bloc, they appear positioned to make gains in the June 6-9 election for the European Parliament.