Criticism of management fashion: “Black day” for Geert Wilders – seven MPs depart the Dutchman’s parliamentary group | EUROtoday

The occasion of Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders has plunged into chaos after seven MPs resigned in protest towards the authoritarian management fashion of its chief. “It is a black day for the PVV,” mentioned occasion chief Wilders on Tuesday. The seven MPs would kind their very own parliamentary group and needed to work extra intently with the three coalition events which might be at present negotiating the formation of a minority authorities, Wilders defined.

“The PVV has lost party members before, but never seven at once,” Wilders added. “This is a big blow.”

His occasion will proceed to pursue “tough opposition” to the ruling coalition, mentioned the PVV chief, who has rejected conferences with the leaders of the three coalition events about doable cooperation.

In a letter obtained by the newspaper De Telegraaf, the seven resigned MPs accused long-time occasion chief Wilders of getting “lost all interest in the election” in the course of the election marketing campaign in October. Wilders canceled a number of interviews and appearances earlier than the election, citing safety causes – which drastically decreased his public presence.

The seven MPs additional criticized the truth that Wilders was the one official member of his occasion. This would endanger the occasion’s existence, they argued.

The new group in parliament shall be led by Gidi Markuszower, who has lengthy been a confidant of Wilders. “We tried to have a dialogue (with Wilders), but that was impossible,” Markuszower mentioned, based on public broadcaster NOS.

In June, Wilders withdrew from the four-party coalition over a dispute over immigration, triggering new elections. However, his plan didn’t work – the PVV suffered defeat within the parliamentary elections on the finish of October. The variety of their seats within the 150-member parliament fell from 37 to 26 seats.

The election winner was the social-liberal politician Rob Jetten from the D66 occasion, with a lead of lower than 30,000 votes over the PVV and likewise 26 parliamentary seats. The coalition negotiations are proving tough; two and a half months after the election, the nation nonetheless doesn’t have an official new authorities. The possibility of a minority authorities is at present being mentioned.