Dutch anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders abandons PM bid
Source: BBC
Dutch anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders abandons PM bid
13 March 2024
Dutch anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has abandoned his bid to become prime minister, despite his party's dramatic victory in the 2023 elections.
"I can only become prime minister if ALL parties in the coalition support it. That was not the case," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
His Freedom Party (PVV) won the most votes last year - but needed support of other parties to form a coalition.
Marathon talks with three other parties look to have failed.
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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68557036
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Source: The Guardian
Geert Wilders gives up hope of being Dutch PM due to lack of support
Leader of far-right Freedom party, which came first in election last year, was unable to get all partners in a potential coalition onboard
Jon Henley
Wed 13 Mar 2024 21.23 GMT
Last modified on Wed 13 Mar 2024 21.32 GMT
Geert Wilders, whose far-right Freedom party (PVV) shocked the Netherlands by finishing first in elections late last year, has conceded that he will not be the next prime minister because his potential coalition partners do not back him.
“I can only become the prime minister if all the parties in the coalition support it. That was not the case,” Wilders said on X late on Wednesday. “Love for my country and voters is bigger and more important than my own position.”
He later added another post saying he would “still become prime minister of the Netherlands” one day. “With the support of even more Dutch people. If not tomorrow, then the day after. The voice of millions of Dutch people will be heard!”
The populist PVV won 37 seats – far more than forecast but well short of a majority in the 150-seat parliament – in the November election and has since been holding exploratory coalition talks with three potential rightwing allies.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/13/geert-wilders-gives-up-hope-of-being-dutch-pm-due-to-lack-of-support
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