The Netherlands to cut asylum benefits as PVV voters seethe

“From January 1, 2025, the state contribution to the accommodation of people who should have left the country long ago will be stopped,” said Dutch Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber. Faber belongs to Geert Wilders’ right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV). She has consulted with the five major cities that offer emergency accommodation under the so-called scheme. “I am committed to the return [of illegals] and not to subsidised accommodation,” said the minister.

Since 2019, rejected asylum seekers in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven and Groningen have been given government funding to prevent those affected from causing a public nuisance. In the future, the cities will be free to continue caring for these illegal immigrants at their own expense however.

Amsterdam has already announced that it would continue to do so at least for the next year, but cities that stick to the scheme may face a backlash from local taxpayers.

The Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported that the government had so far spent around 30 million euros annually on accommodating asylum seekers who were required to leave the country.

The Dutch news service ANP reported that asylum reception in the country would be “greatly reduced” if a crisis were legally declared. In doing so, rejected migrant applicants could be forcibly deported far quicker while domestic border control would also be tightened.

But the European Commission warned last month that the Netherlands cannot simply declare such measures since the government has not been able to “demonstrate” that migrant reception poses real problems. The Commission’s stance is surprising since the previous Dutch cabinet fell in July 2023 as a result of their unchecked migration policy.

At least four political parties in the Netherlands have since reached a coalition agreement comprising 10 proposals with a focus on strict asylum reforms and integration requirements, as well as a temporary “Asylum Crisis Law” allowing for far-reaching actions on migration. Despite this, the Commission simply appears to be ignoring voter preferences.

Thierry Baudet, leader of the FVD (Forum for Democracy) party voiced his concern: “Since the ‘great election victory of the right’ we have not really made any progress: no immigration stop, no remigration, no NEXIT, no tax relief, no fundamental revision of climate policy and so on. Why is all the promised improvement still lacking?”

Sentiment against asylum as well as government funding for the war in Ukraine is hardening in the PVV too. Wilders recently delivered fierce criticism of Prime Minister Dick Schoof to assuage voters, when the latter announced on X that he had once again promised Ukraine a few hundred million euros.

“Did you also talk about the corruption in that country?” Wilders wanted to know from the Prime Minister. During the election campaign last year Wilders was also very critical of Dutch support for Ukraine. His criticism notwithstanding, Geert Wilders posted a selfie online with the Ukrainian leader this week.

His voter base soon erupted with indignation on social media. “Unbelievable. Proudly in the picture with not only someone who cancelled the elections in his own country (and therefore has no legitimacy!) but who may also have been involved in a military attack on our vital infrastructure. Is this what the PVV voter wants?” commented Pepijn van Houwelingen, member of the Dutch cabinet.

Political analyst Joost Niemoller also expressed his disdain for Wilders: “I find this really bad. Proudly with Zelensky in the picture. Providing the full music score for the war against Russia.”