Centraal-rechts in EU kijkt kritisch naar nieuwe Nederlandse regering (en)
The Netherlands' Christian Democrats on Saturday (2 October) approved a coalition agreement with the VVD Liberal party and the anti-Islam Freedom Party of Geert Wilders i, finally allowing the formation of government following the June elections but attracting strong criticism from the European centre-right.
The Freedom Party will not be part of the cabinet but in exchange for offering support to the minority coalition, it managed to extract some controversial concessions including a government programme that will seek to ban the full islamic veil and cut down on immigration.
Adding to the problems for the precarious government - it has only 76 of the 150 seats in the lower house of parliament - Mr Wilders will begin trial today (4 October) on charges of incitement to racial hatred of Muslims. The verdict is expected early November.
The difficult talks on forming a government with the support of the bleached blonde 47-year old Mr Wilders, also a well-known figure outside his own country, have been watched closely around Europe. The shape of the Dutch government has a greater resonance as the Netherlands is also a founding member of the European Union.
Last week, centre-right German leader Angela Merkel i said she would work with the planned Dutch government but that she regretted its make-up.
News confirming that the coalition would go ahead provoked a strong negative reaction from the European People's Party (EPP), representing 73 centre-right parties, including those of the heads of the EU i's three main institutions.
"I deplore this political evolution because it can threaten the understanding, the cohesion and the solidarity in our European societies," said EPP chief Wilfried Martens in a statement.
"It is the duty of the major political families in Europe to reflect on this unfortunate reality and to combat it jointly. As in the past, the EPP will continue to refuse to work with extreme right and extreme left parties at the European Union level."
There has been a rise in the far-right in the EU recently. Far-right parties are in government in Italy and have seats in the parliament in Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Austria and Bulgaria.
This comes as thousands across Europe fear for their jobs amid poor economic growth and tough austerity measures.