Wilders Warns Coalition May Collapse Over Asylum Policy

Rifts Emerge in the Coalition
Wilders characterised the talks as "not a very nice conversation" and resumed his list of ten demands on asylum and immigration. These requests, released last a public request on Monday, include the cessation of all asylum procedures, temporarily pausing family reunifications, freezing the construction of new asylum centers, and permitting the Netherlands to deport dual nationals suspected of criminal activity.

VVD, NSC, and BBB criticized these plans as short on policy detail. There is now a 'responsibility falls there' moment for PVV's asylum minister Marjolein Faber, who VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz has previously complained was doing nothing. "I believe that things need to happen now, that they need to happen quickly," Wilders said. But he conceded that there was no signed agreement so far and also cautioned that a crisis could arise if the support from coalition leaders fails to come on board.

Leaders of Coalition Call for Parly Process
Yesilgöz and NSC leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven advise Wilders to present his demands to the Tweede Kamer. But Wilders refused, arguing that the demands must be part of the coalition agreement to guarantee that the support will be binding. "If you want to be sure that a minister gets something, you have to arrange for it to come into the outline agreement," Wilders said.

The other coalition leaders emphasised that they are not shutting out the PVV but would like to see the right channels being used instead. Some of Wilders' plans are already options under their current policies, said BBB leader Caroline van der Plas. "The three of us have been clear that we will not form a blockade," she said.

Threatening to blow the Cabinet is not constructive, and is "super irresponsible," Yesilgöz said. Van Vroonhoven was disappointed in the approach taken by Wilders, stating that he has enough leeway to act within the PVV-led ministry. "The Netherlands are not very fond of deserters," Van der Plas said before the talks. Coalition negotiations are expected to proceed on Tuesday.