A key party in talks to form a governing coalition in the Netherlands suddenly withdrew from the negotiating table on Tuesday, a blow to far-right leader Geert Wilders who aspires to become prime minister.
Pieter Omtzigt's New Social Contract (NSC) announced that it was
"done"
with this round of negotiations because of a dispute over public finances, making it impossible for Wilders, winner of the elections, to form a government majority.
The NSC said in a letter to its members that it would remain
"constructive"
in negotiations but appeared to rule out the possibility of sitting in a majority government with Wilders.
“This could be constructive support for a minority government for example
,” the party said.
No chance of a majority government
Wilders won the legislative elections in November with an anti-Islam, climate skeptic and Islamophobic manifesto, causing shock waves in the Netherlands and beyond.
But, unlike what happens in the United Kingdom for example, the leader of the victorious party does not automatically take the reins of the country.
In the highly fragmented Dutch political system, where no party is strong enough to govern alone, exiting the polls generally marks the start of months of negotiations.
Wilders has started negotiations with three other parties, but without the NSC and its 20 seats out of 150 in Parliament, he has no chance of forming a majority government.
Omtzigt had previously expressed his disagreement with parts of Wilders' manifesto considered unconstitutional, such as its anti-Islam elements, but also with plans for
"Nexit"
, or an exit of the Netherlands from the EU.
“Incredibly disappointing
,” Wilders wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“The Netherlands wants this government and now Pieter Omtzigt is throwing in the towel while we were still in talks until today.
I don’t understand at all
,” he added.