VVD Senate Vote On Asylum Complicates Gov't Coalition Talks

The voteon 16 January by senators from the centre-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) to back a law that will force Dutch municipalities to take in a certain number of asylum seekers has caused rifts among the several parties looking to form a governing coalition following the Nov '23 elections. The VVD senators voted against the wishes of party leadership, with VVD senate leader Edith Schippers writing to party members about why she and her fellow lawmakers defied party head Dilan Yesilgöz.

• Coalition talks continue between the VVD, Geert Wilders' right-wing nationalist Party for Freedom (PVV), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), and the agrarian populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB). However, following the passage of the legislation, Wilders statedthat 'a major problem' had arisen due to the liberal turn in the Senate,"
• This comes as the centre-left/environmentalist Labour Party-GreenLeft (PvdA-GL) alliance, which would sit as the main opposition should a right-wing coalition be formed, called on informateurRonald Plasterk to answer to the House of Representatives. Left-leaning outlet BNN VARA reports that according to PvdA-GL leader Frans Timmermans, the parties are already discussing policy options before assurances have been made about respect for the constitution should Wilders lead the gov't.
• The current talks run until end-Feb, when the Parliament expects another report from Plasterk on the progress towards a new gov't.