From: Finance News Network June 4, 2025 “This is is suicidal politics,” said Dutch political scientist René Cuperus. “Geert Wilders shot himself in the foot.”
Fallout and fury: Leaders of the remaining coalition parties reacted with open anger.
“This wasn’t about asylum at all,” said VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz. “We had a right-wing majority. He lets it all go — for his ego. He’s running away at a time of unprecedented uncertainty.”
Prime Minister Dick Schoof said, he had warned party leaders repeatedly that bringing down the government was “unnecessary and irresponsible.” He and the remaining cabinet ministers will now govern in a limited caretaker capacity, restricted from launching new initiatives or passing major legislation.
Political observers say Wilders may have engineered the collapse to reset the narrative.
“He knew support was waning,” said Chatham House analyst Armida van Rij. “And with the NATO summit approaching, he tried to use it as leverage to force concessions.”
“If it hadn’t happened today, it would have happened in a few weeks,” said D66 leader Rob Jetten, noting the coalition was riven by infighting and dysfunction. “The other parties were being held hostage by Wilders.”
But while Wilders has vowed to return stronger and try again for the premiership, his reputation as an unreliable partner may make future coalition-building even harder.
For now, the Netherlands faces a period of paralysis: 1. governed by a weakened cabinet, 2. heading into a NATO summit with major defence obligations unresolved, 3. and drifting toward an uncertain election season.
