Dutch Anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders and three other party leaders have reached a provisional coalition deal, bringing the hard right closer to governing in the Netherlands. The parties are set to present the text to their backbenchers before finalizing a government deal, with the selection of a prime minister still pending.
Wilders, who won the election but deemed too risky to lead, has pushed for an outsider to take the helm. Speculation surrounds Ronald Plasterk, a member of the Labor Party, as a potential candidate for prime minister. The coalition also includes outgoing Prime Minister Rutte’s center-right party and the populist Farmer Citizen Movement.
With a comfortable majority in parliament, the coalition aims to push through their agenda, marking a significant shift in Dutch politics. Wilders, after two decades in opposition, has opted to step aside in the interest of advancing his party’s goals.
The rise of hard right and populist parties in European governments is a trend seen across the continent, with parties in Finland, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Italy leading or part of governing coalitions. The upcoming European Parliament election in June could further solidify the influence of these parties on the European stage.