• Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom withdraws from the Dutch coalition, toppling the government.
• The crisis arises from a dispute over stricter immigration policies.
• Calls for new elections are expected to follow, with possible dates in the autumn.
• Coalition partners expressed shock and anger at Wilders' move, labeling it irresponsible.
• The Netherlands will operate under a caretaker government until a new election is organized.

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders has withdrawn his Party for Freedom (PVV) from the ruling coalition, leading to the collapse of the government after only 11 months. This decision, taken on June 3, was prompted by his frustration over the slow implementation of stricter immigration policies which he had demanded from coalition partners. “No signature under our asylum plans. The PVV leaves the coalition,” he announced on Channel News Asia.

Wilders had proposed a controversial 10-point plan that included measures such as closing borders for asylum seekers, increased military involvement at the borders, and deporting Syrian refugees back to their home country. His coalition partners, which included the conservative VVD party and the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), rejected these proposals, indicating that his migration minister from the PVV should work on them instead. This led to increasing tensions and ultimately the exit of the PVV from the coalition, according to BBC and Huffpost.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof held an emergency meeting following Wilders’ announcement, expressing disappointment and cautioning against the government’s collapse amid ongoing international challenges. He described Wilders’ withdrawal as “unnecessary and irresponsible,” emphasizing the need for a stable government especially with an upcoming NATO summit in The Hague scheduled for late June. “We are facing major challenges nationally and internationally,” he noted, as reported by Times of India.

The loss of the PVV from the coalition creates a significant power vacuum, as the coalition previously held 88 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives. Now, it will operate without a majority, prompting discussions about new elections, likely set for October. Political analysts have noted that Wilders’ extreme positions may backfire, as recent polling shows a slight decline in support for his party, which was the largest after the November 2023 elections, according to Al Jazeera, Times of India, and Reuters.

As the political landscape shifts, the continuing division over immigration is expected to dominate discussions in the lead-up to snap elections, with opposition figures insisting that Wilders’ move puts his political ambitions ahead of national interests. Coalition partners have voiced that they were making arrangements to implement aspects of Wilders' proposals without compromising the government’s stability, further complicating the political debate, according to sources from Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.