PVV and JA21 unveil election programs, both push hardline migration policies

Both the Party for Freedom (PVV) and JA21 have released their election programs ahead of the upcoming Tweede Kamer elections, each focusing on stricter migration controls and stronger domestic security, while diverging on socio-economic and governance priorities.

PVV, led solely by Geert Wilders, is campaigning on a complete closure of the Netherlands to asylum seekers. In the program’s foreword, titled Dit is uw land! (“This is Your Country!”), Wilders writes that the country is “full. Overfull. Bursting.”

The party calls for a temporary four-year total asylum stop and argues that annual asylum costs reach nine billion euros, linking migration to rising crime in towns such as Ter Apel and Budel.

The PVV program calls for the closure of all asylum centers, the return of Syrians to their country or other Arab nations, ending obligations under the UN Refugee Convention, halting family reunification, and deporting all Ukrainian men.

The plan revives part of a ten-point strategy previously presented by Wilders. It was rejected in coalition negotiations, contributing to the fall of the Schoof cabinet.

Economically, PVV promises lower taxes, elimination of the healthcare deductible, and a zero percent VAT on groceries, while increasing VAT on cultural activities to 21 percent.

The party anticipates savings from ending development aid, closing asylum centers, and reducing European Union contributions, though the program does not provide cost estimates for border closures or military deployment.

PVV also emphasizes internal security, including an expanded police force and changes to prison arrangements. As the party has only one member—Wilders—the program requires no internal approval.

JA21 election program

JA21, led by Joost Eerdmans, emphasizes having less rules, more space for entrepreneurship, and greater citizen influence through binding referendums.

The party proposes a smaller government but wants two new cabinet posts: a secretary for nuclear energy to accelerate construction of nuclear power plants, and a minister for government efficiency and autonomy to oversee referendums allowing citizens to overturn parliamentary legislation.

JA21 also focuses on stricter migration policies to ease housing market pressures, proposing repeal of the dispersal law, limits on family reunification, and stronger border enforcement. The party would use development aid funds to cover legal costs for criminal asylum seekers. It said it prioritizes protection of "Western values" and wants stricter oversight of Islamic schools.

JA21 positions itself as a law-and-order party, pledging increased domestic security funding, harsher penalties for criminals, and the return of the railway police.

On defense, it supports NATO’s two percent GDP spending standard and aims to grow the military and civilian defense workforce to 200,000 personnel by 2035.

The party’s tax plan includes a single corporate rate, abolishing taxation of significant company holdings, and ending inheritance and gift taxes.

JA21 also highlights measures against domestic violence and femicide, proposing “cooling houses” for perpetrators to allow victims to remain at home. Other policies address migration, education, civil liberties, and international positioning, including restrictions on low-skilled migration, reversal of healthcare deductible cuts, banning face coverings at demonstrations, and relocating the Dutch embassy to Jerusalem.