The Netherlands will hold a snap parliamentary election on October 29, outgoing Interior Minister Judith Uitermark confirmed Friday, following the collapse of Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s coalition government.
The announcement comes less than a year after the four-party alliance took office, marking one of the shortest-lived governments in Dutch political history. The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, triggered the breakup by withdrawing its ministers after coalition partners refused to endorse his hardline immigration plan.
Wilders had demanded support for a 10-point proposal that included deploying the military to secure borders and rejecting all asylum seekers. When his ultimatum was rejected during a brief crisis meeting, he followed through on his threat to exit the government.
“I’m shocked,” said Dilan Yeşilgöz, the head of the center-right VVD party, criticized Wilders' actions as "highly irresponsible." She highlighted urgent issues facing the government, such as the Ukraine war and a possible economic recession. Political Consequences and Election Outlook The national Electoral Council's suggested October election date provides time for campaigning after the summer parliamentary break. Surveys indicate a close contest between Wilders' PVV, Yeşilgöz's VVD, and the Labour-Green coalition led by ex-EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans. Wilders, whose party gained in the 2023 election but has since waned in support, promised to grow his movement. "Make the PVV so large that we can finally halt asylum, shut down shelters, and expel criminal foreigners," he shared on social media. Meanwhile, Schoof will continue as interim prime minister, including during the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague. He committed to maintaining stability on crucial matters like defense, Ukraine assistance, and economic policy amid global trade tensions. The election may once again transform Dutch politics, with emerging parties like the centrist NSC and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) striving to stay relevant. NSC leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven has already dismissed future collaboration with Wilders, while Yeşilgöz is under pressure to clarify her position after previously being open to a PVV alliance. As parties shift to campaign mode, the migration debate—and Wilders' potential role in the next government—will be central to the race.