The Netherlands is set to shift towards the hard right as anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders and three other party leaders have reached a coalition deal after months of negotiations. The agreement, titled “Hope, courage and pride,” includes stringent measures on asylum seekers, such as deporting individuals without valid residence permits, eliminating family reunification for refugees, and reducing the number of international students in the country.
Wilders hailed the agreement as a victory, emphasizing the implementation of what he described as the strictest asylum policy ever. The coalition deal also addresses issues such as combating climate change, increasing social housing, imposing stricter sentences for serious crimes, and capping property taxes.
Despite the hard right and populist parties gaining ground in several European countries, Wilders has acknowledged that he will not be the next prime minister of the Netherlands. The coalition is yet to decide on a prime minister, with speculation pointing towards a technocrat from outside the party structures, possibly Ronald Plasterk from the Labor Party.
The agreement also includes provisions to support Ukraine, enshrine the NATO defense spending requirement of 2% of GDP into law, and address concerns of farmers who have staged disruptive protests. The coalition aims to explain the program to parliament, with a debate scheduled for the following week.
