Dutch far-right Geert Wilders' hopes of becoming prime minister sink after coalition talks collapse
CNBCFeb 02
Netherlands: Wilders Abandons Prime Minister Bid
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The Facts
Nearly four months after an election in which his party won the most seats, Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders said on Wednesday he was ready to drop his ambitions of becoming the country's next Prime Minister.
Despite his Party for Freedom (PPV) securing 37 out of 150 seats in November’s elections — far more than predicted — it fell short of a majority, requiring Wilders to enter into a coalition with other parties to form a government, a feat he has so far failed to achieve.
The Spin
Narrative A
Wilders is an incredibly controversial figure who is known for inflammatory anti-Islamic and anti-immigration rhetoric. In a country that's long prided itself on tolerance, it's no surprise that the other parties did not want him to hold the top job.
Narrative B
The fact that the person with the most votes in the general election will not become Prime Minister is not only unfair, it's undemocratic. The Netherlands needs to overhaul its laws so that this situation cannot happen again.