Netherlands: Wilders wants to restart coalition talks

Anti-Islam party leader Geert Wilders wants to resume talks on forming a right-wing coalition with the VVD Liberals and Christian Democrats, Nos tv reports on Tuesday.

Wilders pulled out of the talks after four weeks on Friday, saying he no longer had confidence in the CDA. But now Ab Klink, the CDA’s biggest critic of the right-wing alliance, has stepped down as an MP, Wilders says he would like to start talking again.

In an initial reaction, VVD leader Mark Rutte said he would be pleased to resume talks on a right-wing government. And CDA leader Maxime Verhagen also wants to reopen the negotiations. My position is the same as it was on Friday, Verhagen said. ‘The CDA wants to continue.’

Dutch News, 7 September 2010