Wilders suspends talks because asylum policy is too light: “There is no break, only a bump”

PVV leader Geert Wilders asked for comment during a “robust” discussion at the formation table. This was mainly related to negotiations on asylum and immigration, say informants Richard van Zoll and Elbert Dijkgraaf. The party asserts that it believes that asylum procedures are “very light.”

Reports that the FFP leader left angrily also contradicted fellow negotiator Peter Umtsigt. Wilders reportedly applied to be suspended and, according to informants, left the building in an orderly manner. Political reporter Mats Ackermann also agrees that this has happened before, so there's no reason to really worry about it. “I contacted PVV and they referred me to Wilder’s Twitter account, which is basically his communication platform.”

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By publishing the Telegraaf article about the suspension of talks on this Twitter account, Wilders more or less confirms this reading. He followed that up with a tweet in which he made clear that he no longer saw room for concessions, and that it was up to others to make them now, Ackerman says. “Let's face it: all parties have priorities in these negotiations and for the Freedom Party, asylum and immigration are the number one topic.”

It was no coincidence that two immigration experts were invited to the formation table today, indicating that this topic will be discussed for a few hours. The idea was for this to continue until seven in the morning. But that didn't work, because of Wilders, who may or may not have been stomping his feet. At most, this represents a small difference, Ackerman says. “The talks were suspended today, but will continue tomorrow with the Freedom Party.”

Count your buttons

According to informants, the fact that the conversation broke down does not mean that the negotiations have reached a dead end either. “We will continue to work with full confidence tomorrow morning at 10:30,” Van Zoll said. Dijkgraf: You have to count your contracts every now and then. “This is a whole part of the negotiation process.” Not surprisingly, Wilders needed time to discuss the situation with his group, Ackermann says. “This also gives other parties the opportunity to realize that Wilders clearly believes that is not enough,” he added.

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Tomorrow morning at nine-thirty, the four formed parties will join the informants again, so there doesn't seem to be a split. “But it is a small bump, which you may have to overcome often in such a process.” It is the kind of shock that may be necessary to show his supporters that Wilders is fighting for the right cause. “Then people think: There was a package that wasn't heavy enough, then it will be taken off the table and then a sturdier package will probably be available. Although it will also be partial to the stage.

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Ackerman certainly does not rule out that the spring memorandum presented today may have added some additional fuel to the fire, with another major financial setback for the reception of asylum seekers in crises. This year, an additional 375 million euros appear to be needed, on top of the additional 600 million euros that were already in place. And next year another 700 million euros. “The fact that so much extra money is now going there from the outgoing government may not fit into discussions about immigration.”