The war of words underscores how last week’s violence, which sent shockwaves through the Netherlands, has rocked its relatively new and untested coalition government.Wahaj Bani Moufleh/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Amsterdam football violence exposes first cracks in Dutch government – POLITICO

by · POLITICO

Geert Wilders’ fury at members of the Dutch ruling coalition following football-related violence among locals, Israelis and police in Amsterdam highlights the growing tensions among the country’s four governing parties.

The Dutch far-right leader blasted Prime Minister Dick Schoof, whom he helped get the top job, for attending a European summit in Budapest last Friday, a day after violence broke out in the Dutch capital. “Why is there no extra cabinet meeting? Where is the sense of urgency?” Wilders asked.

Schoof, who canceled a trip to the COP29 climate talks and returned from Budapest early, defended his absence and said he had remained “in contact with everybody” throughout.