Current:Home > MyA new Dutch parliament has been sworn in after Wilders’ victory in the national election 2 weeks ago -InfinityFinance
A new Dutch parliament has been sworn in after Wilders’ victory in the national election 2 weeks ago
View
Date:2025-04-18 06:14:14
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A new lower house of the Dutch parliament was sworn in Wednesday, two weeks after the far-right party of lawmaker Geert Wilders won a general election in a seismic shift that reverberated through Europe.
While the newly configured Second Chamber is now installed, talks to form a new ruling coalition remain at an early stage, with a “scout” still talking to leaders about possible combinations to succeed the last four-party administration led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The scout is expected to send a report to parliament before a debate, likely next week, on the next step in the coalition formation process.
Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest serving premier, will remain in office until a new coalition is formed and sworn in. Talks to form Rutte’s final coalition took some nine months, a record.
Wilders’ anti-Islam, anti-immigration Party for Freedom won 37 seats in the 150-seat Second Chamber of Parliament in the Nov. 22 election, putting him in pole position to succeed Rutte. But at least two potential coalition partners are balking at some of his policy pledges that they consider unconstitutional.
The New Social Contract of former Christian Democrat lawmaker Pieter Omtzigt has 20 seats in the new parliament, but is so far reluctant to commit to joining Wilders in a coalition.
Among Wilders’ campaign pledges is for “No Islamic schools, Qurans and mosques” in the country, though his manifesto doesn’t outline how he would achieve that goal. The Dutch Constitution guarantees rights, including freedom of religion.
Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, the new leader of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy long led by Rutte, has said she doesn’t want her party to join a coalition with Wilders, but has pledged to support a center-right coalition in parliament.
The new parliament is made up of 15 different parties and includes 67 lawmakers with no experience in the national legislature.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Student loan borrowers face plenty of questions, budget woes, as October bills arrive
- A fire in a commercial building south of Benin’s capital killed at least 35 people
- The Rise of Digital Gold by WEOWNCOIN
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- Judge asked to decide if Trump property valuations were fraud or genius
- Russia strikes Odesa, damaging port, grain infrastructure and abandoned hotel
- How inflation will affect Social Security increases, income-tax provisions for 2024
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Nightengale's Notebook: 'It's scary' how much Astros see themselves in young Orioles
Ranking
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- On the campaign trail, New Zealand leader Chris Hipkins faces an uphill battle wooing voters
- Safety Haley Van Voorhis becomes first woman non-kicker to play in NCAA football game
- The Sweet Reason Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves Don't Want Their Kids to Tell Them Everything
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Facial recognition technology jailed a man for days. His lawsuit joins others from Black plaintiffs
- Ukraine is building an advanced army of drones. For now, pilots improvise with duct tape and bombs
- A statue of a late cardinal accused of sexual abuse has been removed from outside a German cathedral
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy calls on Sen. Robert Menendez to resign in wake of indictment
Oil prices have risen. That’s making gas more expensive for US drivers and helping Russia’s war
Leader of Canada’s House of Commons apologizes for honoring man who fought for Nazis
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Past high-profile trials suggest stress and potential pitfalls for Georgia judge handling Trump case
First refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh arrive in Armenia following Azerbaijan’s military offensive
A statue of a late cardinal accused of sexual abuse has been removed from outside a German cathedral