ANP Productions | Source: ANP
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The Hague
Geert Wilders will once more participate in the formation talks following negotiations were temporarily suspended at his request on Monday when it came to asylum and migration. The conversations “are sometimes heated” according to the PVV leader. “That’s good too. And then you try to get out of it. I hope it works,” he says before the start.
He is not sure regarding the latter, the radical right-wing politician adds.
Informants Richard van Zwol and Elbert Dijkgraaf confirmed on Monday that Wilders had requested a suspension following a “robust” conversation. But they did not recognize the media reports that the PVV leader walked away angry. According to one person involved, this was indeed the case. The duo also emphasized that the interruption did not mean negotiations had stalled.
BBB response
Caroline van der Plas from BBB is not surprised by Wilders’ action. “It’s my first formation,” she says just before negotiations resume. “But I think in a formation you play ‘hardball’, so you put things down sharply.”
The BBB leader understands Wilders’ temporary walking away. “Because asylum is a very important topic for the PVV.” According to Van der Plas, opinions are divided on this at the formation table.
Amend UN refugee treaty
The politician believes that “a lot is possible” to ensure that fewer asylum migrants come to the Netherlands. In her opinion, adapting the 1951 United Nations refugee treaty is also an option. “Laws and treaties exist, but they are not set in stone,” says Van der Plas.
The negotiators of the four parties will continue discussions on Tuesday.
