The Dutch government has collapsed after far-right Wilders pulls out of coalition. What now?

Dutch opposition parties on Wednesday called for fresh elections as soon as possible, a day after anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders sparked the collapse of the country's four-party coalition government.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof's administration fell apart when Wilders withdrew his Party for Freedom ministers from the ruling coalition in a dispute over a crackdown on migration. Schoof and the ministers of three remaining parties remain in power as a caretaker cabinet.

The government, with limited powers, now has to lead the country for months before new elections and during what could — again — be protracted talks to cobble together a new coalition in the fragmented Dutch political landscape after the vote.

Lawmakers can declare some policy areas "controversial" during the caretaker period, which would restrict the government from taking concrete action on those issues.

Schoof, a career civil servant who was handpicked by Wilders a year ago to lead the government, said he had repeatedly told coalition leaders in recent days that bringing down the government would be "unnecessary and irresponsible."

Schoof's 11-month-old administration goes down as one of the shortest-lived governments in Dutch political history.

Wilders told reporters that he was withdrawing his support for the coalition over its failure to act on his desire for a clampdown on migration, saying he "signed up for the toughest asylum policy and not the downfall of the Netherlands." Coalition partners rejected that argument, saying they all support cracking down on migration.

What happens next

The Dutch electoral commission will schedule a general election for all 150 seats in the Second Chamber of parliament.    

It is very unlikely to happen before the fall because of a parliamentary recess that starts July 4 and runs to Sept. 1, and that will be followed by several weeks of campaigning.

In a statement to lawmakers, Schoof said he wants to keep control, even in caretaker mode, of vital policies over the coming months, highlighting security concerns and the need to continue support for Ukraine, as well as the global trade war unleashed since the start of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term, "because that can have a direct effect on the Dutch economy and on our business community."   

He acknowledged that some other policies will be put on ice until there is a new coalition. 

Opposition lawmakers urge speedy election   

"I hope we can organize elections as quickly as possible, in the shortest possible time," said Frans Timmermans, the former European commissioner who now leads a two-party, centre-left bloc.

He told The Associated Press that it was "an opportunity for all democratic parties to rid ourselves of the extremes because it's clear that with the extremes you can't govern. When things get difficult, they run away."

Timmerman's bloc of the Labour Party and Green Left is challenging Wilders's party for top spot in Dutch polls. Wilders's party won the most seats at the last election in November 2023 with a harsh anti-migrant and anti-Islam platform, in a shocking surge toward the far-right. 

Last week, Wilders unveiled a plan to radically slash migration, including using the army to guard land borders, turning away all asylum-seekers and halting family reunions for those already granted refugee status, warning that his party would be "out of cabinet" if stricter measures on migration weren't implemented. 

Lawmakers used Wednesday's debate to attack Wilders for failing to make good while in office on his 2023 election pledges.

"You turned your back on these people," Jimmy Dijk of the Socialist Party said, suggesting that Wilders apologize to his voters.

Wilders also is looking forward to campaigning.   

"Let's go back to the voter," he said.   

What about the NATO summit?   

The government says it will still be hosting the meeting of government leaders from the NATO alliance in The Hague later this month.

"We look forward to welcoming all NATO allies on 24 June," Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a post on X shortly after the administration's collapse. 

He also said the Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression. The Netherlands has provided key arms to Kyiv, including F-16 fighter jets.