**Dutch Coalition Government Falls As Far-Right Leader Resigns**

Political fallout ensues as the nation prepares for potential elections amid rising tensions over asylum policies.

The Dutch government has officially collapsed after Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV), withdrew his support from the ruling coalition, which has been in place for under a year. Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed his resignation on Tuesday, expressing his disappointment over Wilders' decision during an emergency cabinet meeting. Schoof plans to present his cabinet's resignation to King Willem-Alexander by day's end.

In a press briefing earlier, Wilders declared his ambition to become the next prime minister and achieve greater electoral success for the PVV in forthcoming elections. The fallout of this political upheaval comes just ahead of a crucial NATO summit set to occur in The Hague later this month, suggesting Schoof’s government might serve in a caretaker role until new elections are announced.

The breakdown of the coalition occurred after Schoof attempted a last-ditch discussion with coalition leaders, but the meeting dissolved within a minute when Wilders exited. His party had previously outlined ten asylum-related demands, including a halt on asylum applications, which led to his departure from the coalition, claiming that the lack of action on these demands was unacceptable.

Political leaders across the spectrum expressed shock and frustration over Wilders' exit. Many contended that his demands echoed policies already accepted in the coalition agreement, questioning the motivations behind his drastic move. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz termed Wilders' actions as "super irresponsible," while Deputy Prime Minister Mona Keijzer from the BBB suggested he was betraying Dutch interests. Opposition leader Jimmy Dijk stated that the country had been "liberated from a political hostage situation," criticizing the coalition's perceived ineffectiveness.

Economically, analysts like ABN AMRO's chief economist Sandra Phlippen noted that the cabinet's collapse would likely have minimal immediate financial repercussions, given the government's lack of substantial progress during its brief tenure. Dutch media outlets echoed these sentiments, with reports indicating widespread frustration over the coalition's inability to address significant issues, labeling the cabinet's downfall as an outcome of mismanagement and incompetence.

Experts suggest that Wilders, whose party has seen declining poll numbers, engineered this crisis to revitalize his platform focused on immigration. By framing the issues of asylum as central to his campaign, he hopes to regain lost ground among voters, despite being part of the governing body responsible for immigration policies for nearly a year.