Wilders, far-right leader, makes agreement to establish new coalition in Netherlands

Anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders has made headlines once again, this time for reaching a deal on forming a four-party coalition in the Netherlands, six months after his party emerged victorious in the national elections. This move has sparked concerns about the country veering towards the hard right, just weeks before the EU-wide elections.

The coalition includes Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV), the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the New Social Contract (NSC), and the Farmers-Citizens Movement (BBB). While Wilders himself does not expect to become the prime minister due to his extreme views, his party is set to play a significant role in the coalition.

With the rise of hard-right and populist parties across the European Union, the upcoming EU polls on 6-9 June are expected to reflect this trend. Wilders expressed confidence in the coalition’s success, stating, “I hope we will get there. I think we will get there. I cannot see it going wrong.”

Having spent two decades in the opposition, Wilders now has the opportunity to push through his agenda with the support of his coalition partners. This development comes at a time when several European countries, including Hungary, Slovakia, and Italy, are led by hard-right prime ministers.

As Wilders and his coalition partners navigate the challenges of governing together, the eyes of Europe will be closely watching the Netherlands to see how this new political landscape unfolds.