Coalition with Wilders looks likely

Two months after the general elections, a minority government consisting of liberals VVD and Christian democrats CDA with the support of the extreme-right PVV is looking increasingly likely in the Netherlands. But this morning Amsterdam daily De Volkskrant’s headline- “Commotion within CDA after pact with PVV” – suggests that all is not well with some members of the Christian democrat party balking at the idea of an alliance with Geert Wilders’ movement. Local politician Alaattin Erdal of the CDA has criticised “an enormous U-turn” after his party made a joint statement on Friday 30 July declaring that each of the potential coalition partners tolerated the other’s stance on Islam. Until recently, the CDA has consistently campaigned against what it considers Mr Wilders’ wildly Islamophobic opinions.