Baudet’s video tweet leads CU to pull out of Zuid-Holland coalition

Photo: DutchNews.nl
Photo: DutchNews.nl

ChristenUnie councillors have pulled out of talks on forming a new provincial government in Zuid-Holland province with the nationalist Forum voor Democratie.

Forum emerged as the biggest group nationwide in the March provincial vote but Zuid-Holland is the only province where the party is considered a serious coalition partner.

However, ChristenUnie has now apparently said it will not join a coalition with Thierry Baudet’s party, one reason being his circulation of an anti-immigrant video made by a far right women’s group and doctored to fit the Netherlands by a Dutch anti-semitic organisation.

The fundamentalist Protestant SGP, which works together with ChristenUnie at a provincial level, has said it is not pleased with its partner’s decision, citing it as a ‘missed opportunity’.

FvD, the right-wing VVD and the Christian Democrats have worked out a coalition agreement for the province but need more support to ensure a majority. Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam PVV could also provide the extra votes but such a move would not go down well with the VVD and CDA, commentators said.

Hans Wiegel, the VVD stalwart who is leading the coalition negotiations, said he hopes to provide more clarity after the holiday weekend.

Europe

ChristenUnie has also pulled out of the European parliamentary grouping ECR after its members agreed to let European debutant Forum join.

FvD, which is pro-Nexit, said before the elections it would join the European Conservatives and Reformists group if it won seats in the European parliament. FvD has three MEPs.

‘Forum is for Nexit and I am completely opposed,’ ChristenUnie European leader Peter van Dalen said. ‘A Nexit would be disastrous for the Netherlands and for Europe. The ECR has brought in a party which is not after reform, but for a break-up.’

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation