NSC backs down

Coalition talks in the Netherlands have collapsed

Around ten weeks after the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, the coalition talks between right-wing populist Geert Wilders and three other right-wing parties have collapsed, according to media reports. 

The center-right party NSC (New Social Contract) decided on Tuesday evening in The Hague that it would not continue the talks.

In the election on November 22, the radical right-wing populist Geert Wilders and his anti-Islam party PVV became the strongest party and won 37 of the 150 seats in parliament.

Wilders had previously negotiated the formation of a government with the right-wing liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte as well as with the NSC and the smaller right-wing populist Peasant Citizens' Movement (BBB).

Minority government would be patient
Even before the talks began, NSC parliamentary group leader Pieter Omtzigt had reservations about cooperation based on the rule of law. The VVD is also only prepared to tolerate a minority government led by Wilders without participating with its own ministers.