Coalition talks: VVD and CDA again rule out working with Wilders

The VVD and CDA have again ruled out working together with Geert Wilders’  anti-Islam PVV in forming a new government.

‘He has had his chance,’ CDA leader Sybrand Buma told news website Nu.nl. ‘But after 2012 [when Wilders dropped his support for the minority government] I voted never to work with with the PVV again. Wilders has known this for four years.’

Halbe Zijlstra, who leads the VVD in parliament, also said that talking to Wilders would be a waste of time.

‘He walked out at a crucial point, his socio-economic policies are far removed from ours and, perhaps most importantly, he has become so radicalised that he is damaging the principles of the rule of law and the freedom which every person in the Netherlands has,’ Zijlstra said.

Wilders met Edith Schippers, who is leading the coalition talks, earlier on Wednesday. He told reporters afterwards Schippers asked him if he is prepared to talk to the other two parties in an effort to restore trust.

‘I said I would be happy to do so,’ Wilders said.

He also said that by cutting out the PVV, the VVD and CDA are ignoring his voters and are acting in an arrogant and undemocratic way. The PVV won 20 seats in the 150 seat lower house of parliament in last week’s vote.

Buma said later that that is up to the PVV. ‘You have a responsibility to your voters,’ he said. ‘If you want to be part of government, you must show other parties that there is a basis to work together. He [Wilders] has not done this.’