After nearly half a year since the general elections in the Netherlands, an agreement has been reached on Wednesday for the formation of a fresh center-right-wing government. Comprising of the far-right populist Party for Freedom (PVV), the center-right party New Social Contract (NSC), the right-wing People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and the farmers movement BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB), the upcoming Dutch government is set to take shape.
“It could be an historic day,” said PVV leader Geert Wilders on Wednesday morning.
The party leaders have drafted an initial agreement, which will now undergo scrutiny by all parties involved, with the aim of reaching a “program agreement.” This agreement will outline how various issues will be addressed, without delving into specific details. It is widely known that the new government will adopt a stricter approach towards migration compared to previous administrations.
In the upcoming weeks, the parties will engage in further discussions regarding the allocation of ministerial positions and the selection of a successor to Mark Rutte as the prime minister.
During earlier negotiations, it had already been established that Wilders, known for his controversial anti-Islam views, would not assume the role of prime minister. However, he will continue to serve as a member of the House of Representatives, alongside the other three party leaders.
The PVV won the general elections in the Netherlands on Nov. 22, 2023 by a landslide, and negotiations on a center-right-wing majority government started afterwards with the NSC, the VVD and the BBB. After several months of hard negotiations, the four parties finally came to an agreement on Wednesday.