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Negotiations to form a governing coalition are at an impasse following the resignation of Gom van Strien, who led them.
Published on November 27, 2023 11:58 p.m
Reading time: 1 min
Geert Wilders on November 27, 2023 in The Hague (Netherlands). (ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN / ANP MAG / AFP)
First difficulties for the Dutch far right, less than a week after their surprise victory in the parliamentary elections. The leader of the Freedom Party (PVV), Geert Wilders, experienced his first setback on Monday, November 27th. Gom van Strien, whom he had just appointed to lead negotiations to form a government coalition, resigned from his position. The point of contention: In the Dutch media he is accused of committing fraud in his former company this weekend.
These circumstances and the time required to respond to the allegations “are not compatible with the mission assigned,” explained this senator from the Freedom Party (PVV). “I have therefore informed Geert Wilders and the Speaker of Parliament that I am resigning from my position with immediate effect,” he added.
Allegations rejected by Gom van Strien
On Sunday, the daily NRC wrote that a former employer of Gom van Strien, Utrecht Holdings, had filed a police report about alleged fraud against the senator and other colleagues. Allegations that Gom van Strien considered “unfounded” before reiterating that he “respected all laws and regulations.”
The controversy is a setback for Geert Wilders, whose party won Wednesday’s vote with 37 of 150 seats in the lower house of parliament. “This is not the beginning I dreamed of,” admitted the far-right leader, who nevertheless appeared optimistic and stressed that he was still running for the position of “prime minister of this beautiful country.”
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