Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders withdrew his party from the government on Tuesday in a row over immigration, a move that has toppled a shaky coalition and is likely to usher in snap elections.
Mr Wilders was frustrated with what he viewed as the slow introduction of the "strictest-ever immigration policy" in the Netherlands, agreed on with coalition partners after his shock election win in November 2023.
"No signature for our asylum plans ... PVV leaves the coalition," he said on X, referring to his far-right Party for Freedom.
The withdrawal has sparked political uncertainty in the EU member state, as far-right parties make gains across the continent. The crisis also comes weeks before the Netherlands is due to host world leaders for a Nato summit.
Eighteen months after his election win sent shockwaves across Europe, polls suggest the PVV is still the strongest party in the country. But the gap with its nearest rivals has narrowed, with the left-wing Green-Left party of former European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans following close behind.
Dilan Yesilgoz's People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) – a traditional powerhouse in Dutch politics – is also running near the top two, meaning any election would probably be closely fought.
In late May, Mr Wilders called an impromptu press conference to announce his "patience was up" with the government of Prime Minister Dick Schoof. The PVV leader threatened to collapse the coalition if the government failed to introduce a new 10-point plan to curb immigration within a few weeks.
His plan included border closures for asylum seekers, tougher border controls and the deportation of dual citizens convicted of a crime.
"Close the borders for asylum seekers and family reunifications. No more asylum centres opened. Close them," Mr Wilders said.
Political and legal experts criticised the plans as unworkable or illegal, with some suggesting Mr Wilders was creating a crisis to collapse the government.
His ambitions to lead his country were frustrated after the election, as his coalition partners blocked his bid to become prime minister, settling instead on Mr Schoof as a compromise candidate. The leaders of the four coalition partners agreed not to take up cabinet positions, instead running their parties as parliamentary chiefs.
Mr Wilders has been an uncompromising figure in parliament, with his quick-witted jousting with Mr Timmermans a highlight of debates. Mr Wilders has frequently said the only way to implement his anti-immigrant policies is for him to become prime minister.
However, in the fractured Dutch political system, no party can win an absolute majority in the 150-seat parliament and he will need partners. He can count on the backing of the BBB farmers' party. Support from the VVD, an uneasy coalition partner, is less certain.
Support for the fourth party in the current coalition – the anti-corruption New Social Contract – has collapsed since charismatic leader Pieter Omtzigt stepped down in May.
Right-wing, populist parties have been on the rise across Europe. In May, the far-right Chega party took second place in Portuguese elections.
In Germany, the anti-immigration, far-right AfD doubled its vote share in legislative elections in February, reaching 20.8 per cent. In the UK, polls show the anti-immigration, hard-right Reform UK party of Nigel Farage is making significant gains after a breakthrough in local elections.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
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Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
More on animal trafficking
The specs: 2018 Renault Megane
Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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