Dick Schoof Steps Down As Dutch Prime Minister. Here’s Why

After the departure of Geert Wilders, a far-right politician and coalition partner, due to a disagreement over immigration law, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof resigned on Tuesday, June 3.

Schoof has offered King Willem-Alexander the cabinet’s resignation.

He denounced as “irresponsible and unnecessary” Wilders’ decision to quit the coalition.

“This should not have happened, in my opinion,” he stated.

Although a date has not yet been decided, Schoof stated that the coalition government would act as a caretaker government until a snap election could be held.

Wilders’ announcement earlier Tuesday was supposed to be the last straw for Schoof’s 11-month-old government, and it comes three weeks before the Netherlands is scheduled to host a NATO meeting in the Hague.

But according to Wilders, he made the choice because his coalition partners refused to support his migration proposals.

“I signed up for the toughest asylum policy and not the downfall of the Netherlands,” Wilders told reporters.

His coalition partners hit out at the move, with Dilan Yesilgöz, the leader of the VVD, saying she was “shocked” by the decision, which she described as “super-irresponsible”.

Caroline van der Plas, leader of the BBB, also expressed her disappointment.

“He is not putting the Netherlands first, he is putting Geert Wilders first,” she told Dutch broadcaster NOS.

Wilders had presented a 10-point plan to radically reduce migration, putting pressure on the four-party coalition to toughen its migration policy or risk a cabinet crisis.

“The gloves are off,” Wilders said during a press conference to announce the plan, adding that his party would withdraw from the cabinet if migration policy was not toughened up.

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According to the proposal, all Syrians who have filed for asylum or are in the Netherlands on temporary visas must return, and family reunions for asylum seekers who have been given refugee status must be temporarily suspended.

In the national election held in November 2023, Wilders’ PVV achieved a stunning win, securing 37 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives.

After opposition from other major parties, Wilders was unable to gain the prime ministership, even though the PVV grew to become the largest party in the Dutch parliament.