Geert Wilders’ inability to form a coalition in the Netherlands undermines the possibility of a rapid expansion of the influence of extreme right-wing movements in the EU

On Tuesday, February 13, the Dutch center-left party led by Peter Omtzigt’s NSC (“New Social Contract”) unexpectedly announced its withdrawal from the negotiations on forming a coalition in the Netherlands. 

Nearly three months after voters in the Netherlands handed a landslide victory to Geert Wilders’ right-wing populist, anti-Islam party, the process of forming a new government has hit a major snag after a key party withdrew from coalition talks.

In the November 2023 elections, Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV) came out on top, winning 23.5% of the vote and securing 37 seats in the 150-seat parliament.