As of Dec. 12, 2023, Geert Wilders was the “new prime minister of the Netherlands.”
As of Dec. 12, Geert Wilders was not the new Dutch prime minister
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Although Geert Wilders and his party won the largest number of seats in the Netherlands’ lower house of parliament — 37 of 150 — it does not constitute a majority to form a government.
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Coalition talks have not been successful and as of Dec. 13, Wilders had not been sworn in as prime minister.
Geert Wilders chalked up a surprising victory in the Nov. 22 election in the Netherlands, but some social media posts took it one step too far.
A Dec. 12 Instagram video said Wilders is the “new prime minister of the Netherlands.”
In the video, Wilders, a far-right politician who campaigns on an anti-immigrant platform, gives a speech describing Islam as “incompatible with freedom.”
The post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
Although Wilders’ Party for Freedom won 37 seats in the elections, which was the highest number among any party, it did not constitute a majority in the 150-seat lower house of parliament.
As of Dec. 13, three weeks after the election, Wilders was still negotiating with other parties to form a coalition government. Coalition negotiations could be lengthy and difficult because of ideological differences between more centrist parties and Wilders’ far-right agenda, which includes plans to ban mosques, Islamic schools and the Quran.
It took 271 days after the 2021 elections in the Netherlands for coalition partners to agree to the formation of a government. After an agreement is reached between the coalition partners, a formal ceremony is held and the Dutch king swears in the new prime minister and government ministers.
We rate the claim that as of Dec. 12, Geert Wilders was the “new prime minister of the Netherlands” False.
Our Sources
Instagram video
DutchNews, How to form a new government, Nov. 23, 2006
DutchNews, Wilders nominates Plasterk to lead next stage of coalition talks, Dec. 13, 2023
Politico Europe, Dutch parties reach coalition deal after marathon talks - Dec. 13, 2021
Reuters, New Dutch government sworn in 10 months after last election, Jan. 10, 2022
DutchNews, Dutch coalition deal agreed, 271 days after the general election, Dec. 14, 2021
Associated Press, Dutch king swears in new ruling coalition, Rutte’s 4th, Jan. 10, 2022
Reuters, No agreement in sight for a new Dutch coalition after Wilders win, Dec. 11, 2023
Associated Press, Far-right Dutch election winner Wilders wants to be prime minister, promises to respect constitution, Dec. 13, 2023
BBC News, Dutch election: Anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders wins dramatic victory, Nov. 23, 2023
Al Jazeera English, Anti-Islam Geert Wilders seeks coalition partners after Dutch election win, Nov. 23, 2023
