Amsterdam [Netherlands], June 4: The Netherlands is set to hold new elections after the collapse of the governing coalition on Tuesday, Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced, hours after Geert Wilders' far-right party exited the government amid a dispute over migration policy.
Schoof announced that he would offer King Willem-Alexander the government's resignation. Schoof's Cabinet is staying on as a caretaker government. An election is not expected until the autumn, leaving national politics in a state of limbo.
Populist firebrand Wilders threatened on Sunday to pull out his anti-Islam Party of Freedom (PVV) - the strongest force in parliament - unless the four-party coalition led by independent Schoof agreed to his demands for a crackdown on immigration.
His party's 10-point plan included measures such as the closure of Dutch borders to asylum seekers, the closure of asylum seeker reception centres and an end to family reunification for recognised refugees.
"No sign-off for our asylum plans, no adjustment of the coalition agreement. The PVV is leaving the coalition," Wilders said earlier on Tuesday after failed consultations with the other parties on Monday evening. Opposition politicians immediately called for new elections following the PVV's exit from government, though the remaining three parties could potentially continue as an even more fragile minority government. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
