Wilders’ confidant Bosma failed in his bid to become parliament speaker

Chairman of the New Parliament in The Hague

Another setback for Geert Wilders

Following the elections in the Netherlands, the political landscape is being reconfigured. On Tuesday, Wilders’ men unsuccessfully ran for parliament speaker.

It was a bitter defeat for Geert Wilders on Tuesday in the Netherlands. His confidant Martin Bosma, 61, failed in his bid for parliament speaker in The Hague. Bosma organized the election campaign for Wilders two years ago and made the right-wing populist Freedom Party (PVV) the strongest force in the country. He was later promoted to Speaker of Parliament.

Bosma begins each week’s session with a poem. As a representative of a party whose program even the country’s highest court expressed constitutional concerns, Bosma has also come under fire outside parliament. Anti-racist organizations in the country rejected Bosma’s participation in national celebrations commemorating Dutch involvement in slavery because he had previously questioned the anniversary.

Bosma is now followed by Thom van Campen as chairman of parliament. He comes from the right-wing liberal VVD party led by former Prime Minister Mark Rutte and, at 35, is the youngest speaker of parliament in Dutch history.

Jetten is targeting a red-green list alliance consisting of the Social Democratic Party and the Green Party. But another potential partner, the right-wing liberal VVD led by former Prime Minister Mark Rutte, refused to join left-wing forces. Therefore, a minority cabinet in The Hague cannot be ruled out. But there was also a signal in the election of VVD politician Thom van Campen as speaker of parliament: Jetten’s left-liberal party, D66, and the Christian Democratic Party attempted to integrate the hesitant VVD.

The start of coalition negotiations in The Hague was not smooth. Negotiator Hans Wijers (D66) had to give up his position as mediator. According to media reports, he called Dilan Yesilgöz, Rutte’s successor as head of the VVD, a “liar” on election night. Former Christian Democrat party leader Sybrand Buma is now trying to form a government.

The formation of government in the Netherlands follows a strict pattern. First, an explorer explores the possibility of a majority after the election. A negotiator then conducts initial coalition exploration. The appointed head of government ultimately negotiates the coalition program. Election winner Jetten has set a goal of bringing in a cabinet before Christmas.