Netherlands

The right-wing Freedom Party (PVV) put all opinion polls to shame and at the Dutch elections, and with 37 of Parliament’s 150 seats, is now the assembly’s largest party. But it takes 76 seats for a majority government, and it has proved difficult for Geert Wilders, the party’s leader, to get other parties on board. According to the AFP news agency, Wilders has had a look at the previous ruling party VVD, which is a centre-right party with 24 seats. He has his eyes on the agricultural BBB with seven seats and on the new reform party New Social Party (NSC) with 20 seats.
    The VVD has turned down a government under Wilders. The party will “support a centre-right coalition” from the opposition benches, AFP reported. This applies, among other things, to issues relating to immigration. But the VVD points out that it advocates discipline when it comes to the state budget and that it will secure the Netherlands’ position and membership of international organisations such as NATO and the European Union. The BBB and NSC were seen as more likely partners for PVV than VVD. But now the NSC with popular leader Pieter Omtzigt has also left the negotiations. Omtzigt said Wednesday that it is not possible to work with Wilders unless some of the more extreme parts of the party’s policies are softened. /ritzau/.