Backing of Geert Wilders' Party Is Key To New Coalition Government Agreement In Netherlands

Bloomberg News reports that in the Netherlands, after seven weeks of deadlock, a preliminary agreement to form a government was finally been reached when Geert Wilders' anti-immigrant Freedom Party delegates agreed to back a minority government of Liberals and Christian Democrats.Wilders is known for his anti-Muslim statements and his attempts to limit the influence of Islam in the country. (See prior posting.) Wilders will not hold a ministerial position in the government, and will thus remain free to continue to promote his anti-Islamic views.