Geert Wilders, known for his anti-Islam views, has declared his ambition to become the prime minister of the Netherlands after his party, the Freedom party (PVV), secured the most seats in the recent election. Despite the PVV’s success, Wilders will have to work with other, more moderate parties to form a government.
In a statement posted on social media, Wilders expressed frustration at the reluctance of other parties to cooperate with the PVV. He also stated that he is willing to “continue to moderate” his positions if necessary in order to gain power.
The VVD party, which also holds strong anti-immigration views, has already announced that they will not form a government with Wilders. However, the VVD’s new leader did not rule out the possibility of offering outside support to a Wilders government.
Another potential partner, Pieter Omtzigt of the centrist reform NSC party, has expressed concerns about working with Wilders due to the extreme positions he has voiced that may violate Dutch constitutional protections on freedom of religion.
It is expected that Dutch coalition talks could take months, and positions about parties’ willingness to work with each other may shift over time. If Wilders is unable to form a government, more centrist combinations excluding the PVV are theoretically possible, while new elections would be a last resort.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether Wilders will be able to navigate the challenges and form a government, or if the Netherlands will head for another election.