Wilders’ influence slashed as seven PVV parliamentarians break away to form new faction
The PVV is set to lose over one-fourth of its seats in the Tweede Kamer, with seven of its members of parliament announcing their intention to end their affiliation with the Dutch far-right political party led by Geert Wilders. The seven politicians plan to keep their seats in the lower house of Parliament, intending to form a new faction. Their decision is another blow to Wilders in short succession, as his party came out of the October election retaining 26 of its 37 seats in the Tweede Kamer, a total that will now fall further.
The MPs who announced their intention on Tuesday include longtime Wilders supporters, like Gidi Markuszower, a member of Parliament for nearly nine years. Both René Claassen and Hidde Heutink have held office for over two years. The PVV is also losing four newcomers who won their seats in the Tweede Kamer election late last year: Tamara ten Hove, Annelotte Lammers, Nicole Moinat, and Shanna Schilder.
Gidi Markuszower will lead the new faction, according to fellow departing MP Hidde Heutink. Speaking to the media, Heutink stated, "I believe it's only fair to have an independent person review such a campaign." About what actually happened and how you arrived at such a result. Someone should have seriously addressed it. The present is not a pleasant day. It’s a very sad day.” Markuszower also indicated he is willing to work with D66, CDA, and VVD.
In a statement, the break-away MPs said they want to “work together with all parties that love the Netherlands and with democratic participation for our future members.”
Wilders had previously intended for Gidi Markuszower to become Minister of Asylum and Migration and the PVV’s deputy prime minister in the first Cabinet of Prime Minister Dick Schoof. However, Markuszower failed a security screening by Dutch intelligence service AIVD, which labeled him an “integrity risk,” preventing his appointment. PVV MP Marjolein Faber then took Markuszower’s place.
With the parliamentarians forming a new faction in the Tweede Kamer, the PVV will no longer be the second-largest party in the lower house of Parliament. Instead, it will become the fourth-largest, with 19 seats total out of 150.
It also will not be the largest opposition party if D66, CDA, and the VVD form a coalition government. That will be the left-wing joint party between the Greens and Labour, or GL-PvdA, which has 20 MPs in the Tweede Kamer.
The split followed a party meeting in which the departing members expressed dissatisfaction with Wilders’ leadership and the party's direction. According to documents obtained by NOS, the lawmakers demanded immediate policy changes, arguing that the PVV had not achieved enough for voters and that Wilders being the sole official party member jeopardized the party’s future.
“Continuity of the faction and the needs of the voters must not depend on the decisions of a single PVV member,” the document reportedly stated. The members called for Wilders to commit to these changes “starting today.”
Wilders expressed surprise at the decision and called it a "dark day for the PVV." He noted that course discussions had taken place over recent weeks and that the lawmakers had previously agreed. When asked whether they would take their seats with them, he said, “I don’t know, but I fear yes.”
Wilders said that while he considers “betrayal” a strong word in politics, he did not see the departures coming. The PVV has experienced defections before, including Hero Brinkman, but “never seven at once. So this hits hard,” Wilders said. He expects the number of departures to remain at seven.
The departing lawmakers also criticized Wilders’ public conduct. “Posting offensive images about Islam on X is allowed, of course, but eventually, it does not solve any problems for the voter,” the document noted.
