Firebrand Geert Wilders erupts at rivals after they block him from becoming Dutch PM
The victory of Geert Wilders' anti-Islam, Eurosceptic and anti-immigration party at the latest Dutch elections shook Europe to the core.
Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders abandoned his bid to become the Prime Minister of the Netherlands in this legislature after failing to find the support he needed to take on this role.
The politician, whose party's victory at the Dutch general election in November last year sent shockwaves through Europe, shared the news via his account on social media platform X on the evening of March 13.
The message read: "I can only become Prime Minister if ALL parties in the coalition support it. That was not the case."
Spelling out his priorities remain those he campaigned on, Mr Wilders added: "I would like a right-wing cabinet. Less asylum and immigration. Dutch [people] on 1 [place].
"The love for my country and voters is great and more important than my own position. I love [the Netherlands]."
In a second message, anti-Islam politician Mr Wilders pledged he "will still become Prime Minister".
He added: "With support from even more Dutch people. If not tomorrow then the day after tomorrow. Because the voices of millions of Dutch people will be heard!
“We have become the largest party — I think I should have become prime minister.
“It is unfair, undemocratic and constitutionally incorrect.”
While Mr Wilder's Freedom Party (PVV) won the most votes at last year's election, the populist leader needed the support of other parties to form a working government coalition.
This led to talks between the PVV and three other parties - the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the centre-right New Social Contract, and the populist farmer's party BBB.
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Just how difficult the negotiations were became apparent in February, when the leader of the New Social Contract party, Pieter Omtzigt, announced he had quit the talks due to a disagreement over how to tackle the state of the Dutch government's finances.
Mr Omtzigt, however, said his party was ready to support a minority cabinet.
The leaders of the other parties involved in coalition talks with the PVV had previously recused themselves from taking on the role of Prime Minister.
Dutch public broadcaster NOS claimed the other leaders in talk with Mr Wilders had insisted this week they would be willing to move forward only if they all agreed not to take a role in government.
Mr Wilders' announcement will likely be followed by a parliamentary debate on the issue to be held on Thursday, during which the negotiator leading the latest round of talks, Kim Putters, will also present his report on them.
Without Mr Wilders leading the government, the parties involved in the negotiations are now expected to be backing the idea of a minority government with none of the ministerial posts taken up by them.
While Mr Wilders isn't taking up the post of Prime Minister, his party has seen a dramatic surge in popularity following the elections, according to Politico's Poll of Polls. While at the general election the PVV gathered 24 percent of the vote, the news outlet suggests that on February 24, 33 percent of the people surveyed said they would vote for the party.
