Former Labor Party minister to investigate possible coalitions after Wilders' Dutch election win
Far-right Dutch election winner Geert Wilders has tapped a former minister from the center-left Labor Party to investigate possible coalitions
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dutch election winner Geert Wilders tapped Tuesday a former minister from the center-left Labor Party to investigate possible coalitions, a day after the far-right leader’s first choice quit amid fraud allegations.
Ahead of a meeting that confirmed the appointment of Ronald Plasterk as “scout” to hold talks with political leaders about possible coalitions, Wilders also said on social media that his Party for Freedom, or PVV, known for its anti-Islam, anti-migration platform “is for everyone.”
“The PVV is a broad popular party. The largest in the Netherlands. 2.4 million people voted for us,” Wilders wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He said his party represented people of all levels of education as well as “native" Dutch citizens and immigrants, "workers, retirees, young people and the elderly. From the city, the countryside. The PVV is for everyone.”
The president of the lower house of the Dutch parliament, Vera Bergkamp, confirmed that a large majority of party leaders had approved Plasterk as the new scout, saying he has “broad political support.”
Responding to Wilders' election victory, Plasterk wrote in a newspaper column over the weekend that it was “very healthy for a democracy that there is sometimes a changing of the guard.”
He added that the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, whose new leader has said the party will not join the next coalition, should sit down for talks with Wilders' PVV and two other political winners — the New Social Contract and Farmer Citizen Movement — to discuss a possible four-party government.
The VVD has led the last four coalitions and is the party of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, but lost 10 of its seats in the lower house of parliament at the Nov. 22 election.
Talks between Plasterk and party leaders will begin almost immediately. He is expected to present a report to newly-elected lawmakers early next month for a debate set to be on Dec. 7.
That will likely usher in the next phase of the coalition formation process when potential partners meet to discuss whether they can agree on a package of policies for the coming four-year parliamentary term.