Dutch far-right PVV falls apart, seven MPs form new party

Seven MPs from the far-right PVV have left the party in a dispute over strategy with its leader, founder and only member, Geert Wilders.

A document drawn up by the dissidents shows the group demanded an immediate change in approach, in particular a more cooperative attitude towards the incoming minority coalition. They believe the parliamentary party has not achieved enough for its voters and are unhappy that Wilders is the only official party member.

“Spreading insulting images on X about Islam is okay, but ultimately does not solve any of the electorate’s problems,” the document said. That, the dissidents say, is threatening the party’s continuity.

They also blame Wilders for the party’s loss of 11 seats at the general election in October, saying that “the campaign came to a halt because the leader could not be bothered any more”.

The party’s popularity has declined again since then. PVV won 26 seats in the October general election but opinion polls suggest the party would win just 17 seats if there were an election tomorrow.

Wilders described the decision as a “black day” for the PVV. “I am going to be leader for a long time to come,” he told reporters. “This is a setback, but I have every confidence that we will rise above it.”

The PVV, he said, was committed to being a loud voice in opposition rather than working with the new government.

The seven dissidents will continue as a separate parliamentary party under the leadership of MP Gidi Markuszower, an MP since 2017 and a former confidant of Wilders. He told reporters the new party would be prepared to work with the minority cabinet.

The group includes four of the top seven MPs on the party’s October list, including four new parliamentarians.

Liberal democratic party D66 – the biggest party in the incoming coalition – is currently working on draft legislation that would require all political parties to have formal membership systems.