Far-right PVV ready to vote down bill on asylum rules for not being strict enough

The far-right PVV warned Thursday it will vote against the proposed asylum legislation, including a two-tier status system, if the original strict measures are weakened. “We will not agree to a weak imitation,” PVV Tweede Kamer member Marina Vondeling said during a heated debate in the chamber.

The governing coalition between the PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB fell apart on June 3 when party leader Geert Wilders surprised his right-wing colleagues with a series of immediate demands on asylum and immigration policy. Most of Wilders’ concerns were addressed in the coalition deal negotiated after the 2023 general election. PVV politician Marjolein Faber was also the minister in charge of asylum and migration policy, but Wilders nevertheless withdrew from the coalition, causing the Cabinet to fall.

The party’s hardline stance adds pressure to coalition talks, as the legislation still needs approval in the Eerste Kamer. The PVV objects to amendments from coalition partner CDA that aim to align the bill with the new European migration pact. “Only after the votes on the amendments will we decide whether to support the asylum laws,” Vondeling said. Lawmakers vote first on amendments—smaller changes—before voting on the full law. That process often happens the same day but not always, adding uncertainty.

The bill was originally submitted by PVV politician Marjolein Faber, who stepped down after her party withdrew from the coalition. Demissionary Housing Minister Mona Keijzer (BBB), who now defends the legislation alongside Justice Minister David van Weel (VVD), said the PVV has no credible reason to oppose it. “If they’re against it now, that would be completely unbelievable,” Keijzer said. “They can’t do anything but vote for these laws.”

But key amendments introduced by the CDA and supported by parties including D66 and SP are at the center of the tension. One of the most controversial points is the Cabinet’s plan to implement the new asylum rules immediately, without a transition period.

D66 lawmaker Anne-Marijke Podt warned this abrupt rollout could trigger serious legal and practical problems, as people already in asylum procedures would suddenly face new rules. “That would make it harder to bring over a child or an unmarried partner,” she said.

SP’s Michiel van Nispen called the lack of a transition period unfair. “It means asylum seekers won’t all be treated equally,” he said, arguing that which version of the law applies would depend on when a case is picked up. “That violates the principle of legal certainty and equal treatment.”

CDA leader Henri Bontenbal also urged caution, citing warnings from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) about overburdened staff and legal risks. He proposed delaying implementation until the EU migration pact takes effect to avoid reorganizing the asylum chain twice. “The PVV is only putting on a show, demanding stricter asylum measures without caring whether they’re feasible,” Bontenbal said.

Vondeling dismissed his remarks outright. “I think this is just weak nonsense from Mr. Bontenbal,” she said. “It simply looks like he doesn’t want strict measures at all.”

The outcome of the amendment votes will determine whether the PVV remains on board. Without the CDA’s support, the bill will struggle to clear the Eerste Kamer.