Tough negotiations

Wilders relinquishes the premiership (for the time being)

(Bild: AFP)

In the deadlocked coalition talks in the Netherlands, right-wing populist Geert Wilders is prepared to relinquish the office of prime minister for the time being. This is how the Dutchman hopes to save the tough government negotiations after all.

His Party for Freedom (PVV) and three other conservative parties are examining a scenario in which the party leaders would remain MPs, the broadcaster NOS reported on Wednesday.

Wilders himself announced on Platform X that he could only become prime minister if "ALL" parties supported this. This is not the case. He went on to write: "The love for my country and my voters is great and more important than my own position."

A renunciation with an expiration date
Only to add in another post: "And don't forget: I will still be Prime Minister of the Netherlands. With the support of even more Dutch people. If not tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow. Because the voices of millions of Dutch people will be heard!"

Wilders has not been able to form a coalition since the election in November. During the election campaign, he announced that he would stop all immigration, cut Dutch EU payments and prevent the accession of new members such as Ukraine. He also rejects Islam and does not want to continue arms deliveries to Ukraine.