Prominent members of the conservative VVD party have renewed their criticism of the party’s intended cooperation with the anti-Islam PVV party of Geert Wilders. At a party meeting, senior leaders condemned the populist politician as “repugnant”. Among them were former parliament speaker Frans Weisglas and former cabinet ministers Frits Korthals Altes and Pieter Winsemius.
A majority, however, voiced support for party leader Mark Rutte, who is expected to become the new prime minister of a coalition cabinet with the Christian Democrats (CDA). With the support of the PVV the two parties will have a one-vote majority in parliament. It is not yet clear, however, if two or even more CDA MPs will refuse to support the agreement when the parliamentary party takes a vote next week.