On November 25, 2023, PVV senator Hans van Baalen resigned as a scout for the formation of a new Dutch cabinet. Van Baalen said that he had resigned because he did not believe that it was possible to form a stable coalition government with the PVV. He also said that he was concerned about the PVV’s Eurosceptic and anti-immigration views.
Van Baalen’s resignation came as a surprise to many, as he had been seen as a key figure in the formation talks. He had been appointed scout by the PVV leader, Geert Wilders, and had been tasked with exploring the possibility of forming a coalition with the VVD, CDA, and ChristenUnie.
However, the talks between the PVV and the other parties had been difficult from the start. The PVV’s Eurosceptic and anti-immigration views had made it difficult for the other parties to agree to a coalition deal. In addition, the PVV had made a number of demands that were seen as unacceptable by the other parties, such as the withdrawal of the Netherlands from the European Union.
As a result of the difficulties in the talks, Van Baalen concluded that it was not possible to form a stable coalition government with the PVV. He therefore resigned as scout and said that he would not be involved in any further negotiations.
Van Baalen’s resignation is a major blow to the PVV’s hopes of forming a government. The party is now seen as unlikely to be able to find any other parties that are willing to form a coalition with it. This means that the Netherlands is likely to face a period of political instability as the parties try to find another way to form a government.