Dutch PM Schoof Resigns

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (Worthy News) – The Netherlands’ government collapsed Tuesday after Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof resigned following the decision by the leader of the anti-Islam Party for Freedom (PVV), Geert Wilders, to quit the coalition over a dispute about asylum and immigration.

The cabinet of Wilders’ PVV, the largest party, the populist Farmer-Citizens Movement (BBB), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), and the liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), effectively collapsed.

Wilder’s move means early elections, although the timing was unclear given the NATO military alliance summit due to be held in The Hague at the end of the month.

Ministers reacted furiously, calling it “irresponsible” at a time of massive asylum and immigration, expected economic difficulties, a war in Ukraine, and an upcoming NATO military alliance summit in The Hague.

Schoof said he would offer his cabinet’s resignation to King Willem-Alexander on Tuesday. “With the departure of the PVV, there is insufficient support in Parliament for this cabinet,” he stressed after a specially convened Council of Ministers meeting.

“If one party lacks the will to continue, you simply can’t move forward together.”

Ministers from VVD, NSC, and BBB were to remain in office of what will be a caretaker cabinet.

INCOMPREHENSIBLE REASON

BBB’s Deputy Prime Minister Monika Keijzer condemned PVV leader Wilders as he” pulls the plug for an incomprehensible reason.”

Keijzer added: “Because the heat got too much for him because he couldn’t handle it anymore? Come on, be a man!” She said the collapse of the cabinet could have been prevented. “It wasn’t necessary. Looking at this, this was the chance to finally really do something about migration, the severe housing shortage [and] to build a dam against Muslim extremism.”

Although NSC leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven still favored continuing with a minority cabinet, her party colleague and Deputy Prime Minister Eddy van Hijum said that would not happen: “I think it’s inevitable that elections will be held.”

His party, however, will continue with VVD and BBB until a new cabinet is formed: “There is a firm intention among the three parties not to let things fall apart and to do what is necessary.”

PVV Deputy Prime Minister Fleur Agema said she is “deeply saddened” by the cabinet’s fall, partly because the healthcare deal she wanted will now not happen.

She added that it is “very unfortunate” that she cannot continue as a health minister. Yet, “there was no other choice. It’s difficult in this setup to get more asylum measures through,” adding that she looked forward to “having a few weeks off.”

The political upheaval comes just weeks before the Netherlands hosts the 2025 The Hague summit of the government leaders and heads of state of the 32 NATO member states, their partner countries, and the European Union.

CARETAKER GOVERNMENT

The June 24-26 gathering in The Hague, described as an organizational nightmare for police, will now be overseen by a caretaker government.

Despite the political wrangling, Prime Minister Schoof hopes to continue as a “caretaker” on key issues, including “safety, migration, and nitrogen policy.” Schoof added: I hope we can still be of service to the Netherlands.”

However, he depends on Parliament, which will decide what the caretaker cabinet can continue to deal with and what must be put on hold until a new cabinet is in place.

The cabinet ends one of the shortest governing periods in Dutch postwar history.

The current right-leaning government came into being after early parliamentary elections were held in the Netherlands in November 2023. This was followed by months of negotiations under the Dutch consensus-building system known as the “Polder Model.”

The vote had been expected in 2025, but an early election was necessary as Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s fourth cabinet collapsed in July 2023 due to disagreements between the coalition parties on immigration policies.

Rutte later became the secretary-general of the NATO military alliance.

QUICKLY LEAVING

Monday’s troubles will cut short Schoof’s ambitions, whom Wilders asked to lead the current government.

The 68-year-old, an enthusiastic marathon runner, previously served as Director General of the General Intelligence and Security Service from 2020 to 2024.

Wilders asked him to serve as prime minister. Coalition partners objected to Wilder becoming the government leader in part because of his outspoken anti-Islamic views.

Wilders has expressed concerns about the ongoing influx of mainly Muslim migrants, who he claimed are often incompatible with the Dutch society’s Judeo-Christian roots.

He had asked the three other coalition parties to sign his 10-point plan to turn “Europe’s strictest migration policy” he wanted into reality.

Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.