Current:Home > Contact-usThe Netherlands veers sharply to the right with a new government dominated by party of Geert Wilders-InfoLens
The Netherlands veers sharply to the right with a new government dominated by party of Geert Wilders
View Date:2024-12-23 11:31:53
THE HAGUE (AP) — Anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders and three other party leaders agreed on a coalition deal early Thursday that veers the Netherlands toward the hard right, capping a half year of tumultuous negotiations that still left it unclear who would become prime minister.
The “Hope, courage and pride” agreement introduces strict measures on asylum seekers, scraps family reunification for refugees and seeks to reduce the number of international students studying in the country.
“Deport people without a valid residence permit as much as possible, even forcibly,” the 26-page document says.
“We are writing history today,” Wilders proclaimed, saying he had made sure the three other coalition parties, including the one of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, had accepted the core of his program.
“The sun will shine again in the Netherlands,” Wilders said. “It is the strongest asylum policy ever.”
With hard-right and populist parties now part of or leading a half dozen governments in the 27-nation European Union, they appear positioned to make gains in the bloc’s June 6-9 election. Wilders has been a political ally of radical right and populist leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and French opposition leader Marine Le Pen.
“My party will be at the center of power. It makes us enormously proud,” Wilders said.
He had to make personal compromises, though. Wilders has already reluctantly acknowledged that he will not succeed Rutte at the country’s helm. The parties still have to agree on a prime minister, who is expected to be a technocrat from outside the party structures.
Speculation has centered on Ronald Plasterk from the Labor Party, who shot back to prominence this year when he became the first “scout” to hold talks with political leaders about possible coalitions.
The deal said the next government will continue with existing plans to combat climate change, including continuing to pay for a climate change fund established last year. But the Farmers Citizens Movement is part of the coalition, and the deal includes soothing language and concessions to farmers who have blocked cities with tractors during disruptive protests.
Other points in the agreement include increasing social housing, stricter sentences for serious crimes and capping property taxes.
The group intends to continue supporting Ukraine and wants to enshrine the NATO standard of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense into law.
EU headquarters may not welcome a line in the coalition deal that says “the Netherlands is very critical against further enlargement of the European Union,” at a time when many other member nations want to add Ukraine and some other eastern nations. The EU needs unanimity among its current nations before it can add more.
The parties will explain the program to parliament on Thursday, though a debate will not be held on the agreement until next week.
veryGood! (8393)
Related
- 2 dead in explosion at Kentucky factory that also damaged surrounding neighborhood
- A Georgia teacher wants to overturn her firing for reading a book to students about gender identity
- This Reversible Amazon Vest Will Be the Staple of Your Fall Wardrobe
- Zendaya Visits Mural Honoring Euphoria Costar Angus Cloud After His Death
- Mississippi man charged with shooting 5 people after not being allowed into party
- Mason Crosby is kicking from boat, everywhere else to remind NFL teams he still has it
- Standoff in Michigan ends with suspect dead and deputy US marshal injured
- Jason Momoa, Olivia Wilde and More Stars Share Devastation Over Maui Wildfire
- In bizarro world, Tennessee plays better defense, and Georgia's Kirby Smart comes unglued
- How Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky Formed One of Hollywood's Most Enduring Romances
Ranking
- Supreme Court seems likely to allow class action to proceed against tech company Nvidia
- Ecuador arrests 6 Colombians in slaying of presidential candidate as violence weighs on nation
- Ecuador arrests 6 Colombians in slaying of presidential candidate as violence weighs on nation
- Amid record heat, Spain sees goats as a solution to wildfires
- Pedro Pascal's Sister Lux Pascal Debuts Daring Slit on Red Carpet at Gladiator II Premiere
- Disney plans to hike streaming prices, join Netflix in crack down on subscription sharing
- Standoff in Michigan ends with suspect dead and deputy US marshal injured
- Amid record heat, Spain sees goats as a solution to wildfires
Recommendation
-
The Office's Kate Flannery Defends John Krasinski's Sexiest Man Alive Win
-
Jason Momoa, Olivia Wilde and More Stars Share Devastation Over Maui Wildfire
-
Grand jury indicts teen suspect on hate crime charge in O'Shae Sibley's Brooklyn stabbing death
-
Inflation ticks higher in July for first time in 13 months as rent climbs, data shows
-
John Krasinski Reveals Wife Emily Blunt's Hilarious Response to His Sexiest Man Alive Title
-
Disney is raising prices on ad-free Disney+, Hulu — and plans a crackdown on password sharing
-
Shop Aerie's 40% Off Leggings and Sports Bras Sale for All Your Activewear & Athleisure Needs
-
Grand jury indicts teen suspect on hate crime charge in O'Shae Sibley's Brooklyn stabbing death