Wilders puts the coalition under pressure: Border closure for asylum seekers required!

Wilders puts the coalition under pressure: Border closure for asylum seekers required!

Niederlande - The pressure on the Dutch government coalition is growing, in particular due to the ultimate demands of Geert Wilders, the head of the right -wing populist party for freedom (PVV). Wilders demands a radical tightening of asylum policy and threatens to let the coalition burst if his demands are not fulfilled. He recently presented a detailed ten-point plan on asylum policy, which he made public on X (formerly Twitter). Among other things, he requires an immediate closure of the borders for all asylum seekers and the use of the military to monitor the limits. If the coalition does not respond within a few weeks, he plans to leave the government. The coalition under Dick Schoof has the goal of a stricter asylum policy, but so far only a few marginal measures such as the increase in border officials have been implemented.

Wilders' demands also include the return of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees to their homeland, the closure of asylum centers, an end to the family reunification for recognized refugees and the designation of criminal persons with double nationality. His plan stipulates that Syrian refugees with temporary residence status that live in state accommodation must leave the country within six months. Wilders speaks of around 60,000 people and states that he is convinced that a significant part of Syria can be classified as safe enough to justify a return.

reactions within the coalition

Within the government coalition, there are different reactions to Wilders' demands. The populist party BBB shows support for its views, while the right -wing liberal VVD and the Center Party NSC are critical. The VVD has noted that you would continue if the Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber, who belongs to the Wilders Party, had offered reliable structural solutions. In general, the coalition partners and experts express concerns about the legal feasibility of Wilders' suggestions, in particular in view of the associated challenges through EU contracts.

The government under Dick Schoof, however, has the goal of stringent asylum policy until the end of the year. Despite the required measures, the reactions of the coalition partners have so far remained cautious. Rob Jetten von D66 criticized Wilders' approach as a political show, which indicates the overall unstable situation within the coalition.

context of asylum policy in the Netherlands

Dutch asylum policy has been in the spotlight for some time. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of asylum application fell by 50% compared to the previous year. This was tackled together with the aim of the coalition to tighten asylum and migration policy. However, existing challenges and protests against asylum homes provide additional tensions. It is expected that the coalition partners will react to Wilders' suggestions in the coming days, which will not only put the national security interests, but also the humanitarian values ​​of the Netherlands.

In this tense political situation, it remains to be seen whether Geert Wilder is perceived by his threat and leaves the coalition or whether the partners succeed in finding a compromise that takes into account both his demands and the stability of the government.

Some spectators wonder whether such a rigid asylum policy can actually achieve the desired effect or whether it will lead to further social polarization in the Netherlands.