Wilders Junks Some Controversial Bills In Effort To Form Gov't-BBG

Bloomberg reporting that Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing nationalist Party for Freedom (PVV), has withdrawn three bills from consideration in parliament that he had previously submitted. The proposed legislation related to the banning of, "certain Islamic expressions. Proposals for an administrative detention law, curbs on the right to vote, and a ban on multiple nationality for certain candidates for office were also retracted..." The move comes as part of an effort by Wilders to moderate his stances as he seeks to build a governing coalition following the November legislative election.

• Former Senator Ronald Plasterk is currently coordinating negotiations between the PVV, the centrist 'good governance' New Social Contract (NSC), the centre-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and the populist agrarian Farmers'-Citizen Movement (BBB). The VVD has previously stated that it will not sit in gov't alongside the PVV but could support from outside.
• NSC head Pieter Omtzigt has said that he would need to ensure that PVV policy positions are not “contrary to the constitution" before offering support. The waling-back of some of his more controversial legislation may be Wilders' attempt to assuage those concerns.
• A deal on a new gov't is unlikely in the short term, with the Netherlands no stranger to lengthy gov't negotiations. Opinion polling shows that if snap elections were held now the PVV would win even more seats than it did in Nov 2023, potentially encouraging the VVD and NSC to back a gov't sooner rather than risk losing more seats.