Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV), announced today (Tuesday) that his party is leaving the government—a move expected to collapse the coalition. The decision follows months of tension between Wilders and his coalition partners over immigration policy, along with increasing criticism from Wilders regarding the government’s position on Israel in light of the war in Gaza.
Wilders, a strong supporter of Israel and a fierce opponent of Muslim immigration to Europe, issued an ultimatum to the coalition last week. He demanded approval of a ten-point plan that includes a total ban on asylum seekers, military deployment to the country’s borders, the deportation of tens of thousands of Syrian migrants, and a temporary freeze on family reunification. At a press conference, he declared, “Our patience has run out,” adding, “We’ve reached the limit—we will wait no longer!”
Failed to Secure an Absolute Majority
Wilders leads the Party for Freedom (PVV), which came in first in the November 2023 elections but did not win an outright majority. After lengthy negotiations, he managed to form a coalition in July with three other parties. Under pressure from his partners, Wilders gave up the role of prime minister, which went instead to an external candidate, Dick Schoof. Although the coalition agreed last October on a series of steps to curb immigration, Wilders accused them of “dragging their feet-” and claimed the measures taken had no real impact.
At the same time, Wilders voiced frustration with the Dutch government’s attitude toward Israel. He called Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp “weak” and accused him of leading the initiative to cancel the European Union–Israel Association Agreement. “It’s not enough to tip the scales,” Wilders said of the government’s actions, announcing he was “taking off the gloves.”
Geen handtekening voor onze asielplannen.
Geen aanpassing Hoofdlijnenakkoord.
PVV verlaat de coalitie.
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) June 3, 2025
An Israeli Flag Permanently Hangs in His Office
Now 61, Wilders has served in the Dutch Parliament since 1998 and is considered a prominent figure in Europe due to his hardline positions against Islam. He has referred to the Prophet Muhammad as a “pedophile,” called for the Quran to be outlawed, and demanded that mosques in the Netherlands—described by him as “Nazi temples”—be shut down. Because of such statements, he lives under heavy security. In the past, he was convicted for discriminatory remarks against Moroccans, after promising a campaign rally that he would ensure “fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands.”
His support for Israel is also symbolic: an Israeli flag hangs permanently in his office, and he frequently declares that Israel is “the West’s first line of defense” against Islam. In the 1980s, he volunteered on the moshav Tomer in the Jordan Valley, working in agriculture. In a past interview, he said, “Nowhere have I felt a deeper sense of identification than I do every time I land at Ben Gurion Airport.”
