Amsterdam, 29 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders has not ruled out forming a minority government, one week after his major election victory. "Anything is possible," he said in The Hague on Wednesday, "but I favour a majority government."

Wilders' anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV) won 37 of the 150 seats, but he needs at least two other parties to secure a majority.

The first phase of forming a government began on Wednesday morning, with the PVV's chief negotiator sounding out the parliamentary groups to see which coalition grouping might have a chance. His report is to be presented next week.

Wilders wants to negotiate with the right-wing liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the new centre party New Social Contract (NSC), and the protest party Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB).

Wilders spoke of a "logical right-wing combination."

Rutte's VVD is rejecting participation in government for the time being due to its losses in the election, planning instead to go into opposition, but it has said it would support a minority PVV-led government. The NSC also has reservations about cooperating with the PVV due to its radcial far-right positions.

Wilders reiterated his willingness to compromise. He had previously said that he would shelve demands for a ban on the Koran and the closure of mosques.

Photo: MIA archive