Geert Wilders is in coalition talks but far from forming Dutch government

Only one other party with a significant number of seats is willing to enter formal agreement with Wilders’ PVV

A month after Geert Wilders emerged as the shock winner of the Dutch election, closed-door talks between his Freedom party (PVV) and three others have begun – but with no certainty of agreement, still less on the shape of an eventual coalition.

The far-right PVV took nearly a quarter of the vote in the 22 November ballot, winning 37 seats in the 150-seat parliament. But with 15 other parties also winning seats, it needs at least two partners to form a coalition government that is sure of a majority.