Wilders' mediator for government formation resigns
Following the election victory of right-wing populist Wilders, The Hague faces the difficult task of forming a government. This is further complicated by the fact that the mediator tasked with the talks has resigned following reports of fraud allegations.
The talks to form a government following the election victory of right-wing populist Geert Wilders in the Netherlands have stalled shortly before they were due to begin. Gom van Striem, the mediator appointed by Wilders to lead the talks, announced his resignation after the media reported allegations of fraud in his former company.
The "turmoil" surrounding the reports and the time needed to respond appropriately "did not suit my work" as a mediator, van Strien explained. The senator from Wilders' PVV party went on to say that he had therefore informed Wilders and the Speaker of Parliament of his resignation from the role. Van Strien should have formally started talks on forming a coalition this Monday and met with the party leaders.
The PVV won 37 out of 150 seats in Wednesday's election. Forming a government is traditionally difficult in the Netherlands due to the highly fragmented political system. It often takes four or more parties to form a government. The already difficult task is made even more complicated for Wilders after the leader of the long-standing conservative ruling party VVD indicated that she would not join the government.
Wilders' victory is tantamount to a political earthquake for the Netherlands. The right-wing populist is sometimes compared to former US President Donald Trump due to his fierce polemics against immigrants and Muslims.
Source: www.ntv.de
