Latest news with #Schoof
Euronews
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Germany's Friedrich Merz accuses Russia of 'terror against civilians'
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday condemned what he described as Russian "terror against the civilian population" of Ukraine and urged the European Union to swiftly impose new sanctions on Moscow. Speaking alongside the Netherlands' caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof in Berlin, Merz accused Russia of deliberately targeting non-military sites in its latest waves of strikes. The two met to discuss topics related to bilateral and European cooperation as well as international politics. Merz described recent attacks on Ukrainian residential areas as "the most serious war crimes" which were "anything but a proportionate response to the very precise Ukrainian attacks on military airfields and infrastructure in the last week." Moscow is escalating the situation and attempting "to create a bloodbath" instead of negotiating with Ukraine, Merz said, who added that a larger tragedy had been averted due to Ukraine's air defence. Schoof echoed Merz's concerns and said Ukraine was defending not only its own sovereignty "but also the security of a war of aggression that was started by Russia." The comments from the Dutch and German leaders come just days ahead of a G7 summit in Canada and a NATO meeting later this month. There, Ukraine's Western allies are expected to urge US President Donald Trump to take a firmer stance against the Kremlin. Merz and Schoof also extended their condolences to the victims of a shooting at a school in Graz, Austria. Merz said he was "deeply shocked by this news that young people have been so suddenly torn from life."
Gulf Insider
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
"We'll Do It Ourselves!" Dutch Vigilantes Stop Cars At German Border In Protest Over Illegal Migration
A group of Dutch citizens staged an unauthorized border control operation this weekend between Ter Apel and the German village of Rütenbrock, citing frustration with what they describe as uncontrolled illegal immigration. Wearing reflective clothing and wielding torches, the group of around 12 men began stopping vehicles on Saturday evening along the N366, a key route between Germany and the Netherlands. The vigilantes, who pulled cars over and even inspected trunks, say they took action because authorities are failing to secure the border and stem the flow of asylum seekers entering the country. 'Nothing is happening. Then we'll do it ourselves,' said one activist, as cited by Algemeen Dagblad. The action, although brief, drew sharp criticism from police and government officials. The municipality of Westerwolde and Dutch police released a joint statement declaring that 'citizens are forbidden to stop cars' and that such actions 'create enormously dangerous situations' and are 'really unacceptable.' The vigilantes are believed to have violated road traffic laws, though it is unclear whether any formal charges will be brought. 🇳🇱‼️ Dutch vigilantes fed up with illegal immigration set up their own border controls with Germany this weekend, between Ter Apel and Rü Wilders, the PVV leader who just collapsed the Dutch government over asylum red lines, called it a "fantastic initiative." — Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) June 8, 2025 One vehicle stopped by the group turned out to be a German police van. The officers promptly ordered the group to leave German soil, threatening to tow their vehicles if they did not comply. The activists relocated their checkpoint to a parking lot on the Dutch side of the border and continued stopping traffic from Germany. The group, reportedly organized via Facebook, primarily includes residents from the municipality of Westerwolde. Outgoing Justice and Migration Minister David van Weel, of the center-right VVD, responded by urging the group to stop. 'I understand the frustration, but I really call on this group not to do this,' he said. 'Let the police and military police do their job and abide by the law.' Van Weel acknowledged the Netherlands 'cannot handle the current influx,' but insisted that border enforcement must remain the responsibility of the authorities. Mayor Jaap Velema of Westerwolde expressed sympathy for the frustrations, citing 'the lack of solutions to the crisis in asylum reception,' but warned: 'This is not the way to express frustrations. We can't all drive through red lights either.' Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration PVV party, praised the citizens' actions on X, calling it a 'fantastic initiative' and adding, 'If [Prime Minister] Schoof and the VVD do not immediately deploy the army en masse for this, we will have to do it ourselves! I would like to participate next time!' Fantastisch overal aan de grens moeten gebeuren. Als Schoof en de VVD het leger niet meteen massaal hiervoor inzetten, moeten we het zelf maar doen!Ik wil de volgende keer graag meedoen!#asielstop #PVVOP1 #PVV — Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) June 8, 2025 Wilders has been vocal about tightening the Dutch asylum regime. His party recently withdrew from the governing coalition after other parties refused to adopt his 10-point plan for what he called 'the strictest asylum policy ever.' The cabinet's collapse triggered early elections, which are scheduled to take place on Oct. 29, 2025. Van Weel reiterated the government's focus on 'stricter asylum laws and better border control.' Wilders, however, responded by accusing him of inaction. 'Weakling. You don't do anything at all. You could have had the army guard the borders now and sent away all asylum seekers on the basis of Article 72 TFEU, just like the Germans do,' he posted on social media. 'If people are frustrated, it is because the VVD is completely failing.' Ter Apel is the home of the Netherlands' largest asylum reception center, where officially around 2,000 asylum seekers are currently housed. In March, residents of Nieuw-Weerdinge, a Dutch town between Ter Apel and the nearest city of Emmen, launched a fundraiser in support of a 51-year-old local man convicted of assaulting an Algerian asylum seeker during an attempted citizen's arrest. He was found to have confronted an Algerian national from the reception center for allegedly stealing €40 from a delivery van. The town has established its own neighborhood watch app used by concerned residents to ensure anyone acting suspiciously in the area is identified after a surge in crime.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Netherlands sets general election date after government collapse
June 6 (UPI) -- The Netherlands Friday scheduled a snap election for Oct. 29 following the collapse of the government caused by the far-right Party for Freedom leaving the governing coalition. Outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Judith Uitermark announced the election date in a post on X. "In the coming period, I will work with the municipalities and other stakeholders to prepare so that this important day in our democracy goes smoothly!" Uitermark said. Prime Minister Richard Schoof's four-party governing coalition collapsed when Party for Freedom's leader Geert Wilders demanded radical slashing of migration. Schoof indicated in a message to lawmakers he will maintain control over critical policies in the months between now and the October election. "As far as I'm concerned, it's about security, both nationally and internationally, including support for Ukraine and everything that's needed for defense," Schoof said in the statement. The far-right Party for Freedom quit the Dutch government Tuesday, prompting Schoof to submit his resignation to King Willem-Alexander's cabinet. Schoof called the move to quit the government "irresponsible and unnecessary." The current cabinet will stay in place pending the general election to act as a caretaker government. "Schoof showed that he is not the right man in the right place. If you, as prime minister of a cabinet in which the PVV is the largest party, refuse to sign a letter about a stricter asylum policy and a tougher approach to criminal aliens, then you are unsuitable," Wilders said in a post on X. The PVV pulled off a shock victory in the November 2023 election gaining more seats than ever before for the far right. Wilders, an anti-Islamist right-wing politician, tried to parlay the 37 seats his party won into becoming prime minister, but he was forced to abandon that attempt. There are 150 seats in the Dutch parliament. The center-left Labor party and Green Left won the second highest number of seats. Schoof became Prime Minister instead of Wilders, forming a government consisting of the PVV, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the New Social Contract and the Farmer-Citizen Movement. That governing coalition was seated in July 2024.
Miami Herald
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Netherlands sets general election date after government collapse
June 6 (UPI) -- The Netherlands Friday scheduled a snap election for Oct. 29 following the collapse of the government caused by the far-right Party for Freedom leaving the governing coalition. Outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Judith Uitermark announced the election date in a post on X. 'In the coming period, I will work with the municipalities and other stakeholders to prepare so that this important day in our democracy goes smoothly!' Uitermark said. Prime Minister Dick Schoof's four-party governing coalition collapsed when Party for Freedom's leader Geert Wilders demanded radical slashing of migration. Schoof indicated in a message to lawmakers he will maintain control over critical policies in the months between now and the October election. 'As far as I'm concerned, it's about security, both nationally and internationally, including support for Ukraine and everything that's needed for defense,' Schoof said in the statement. The far-right Party for Freedom quit the Dutch government Tuesday, prompting Schoof to submit his resignation to King Willem-Alexander's cabinet. Schoof called the move to quit the government 'irresponsible and unnecessary.' The current cabinet will stay in place pending the general election to act as a caretaker government. 'Schoof showed that he is not the right man in the right place. If you, as prime minister of a cabinet in which the PVV is the largest party, refuse to sign a letter about a stricter asylum policy and a tougher approach to criminal aliens, then you are unsuitable,' Wilders said in a post on X. The PVV pulled off a shock victory in the November 2023 election gaining more seats than ever before for the far right. Wilders, an anti-Islamist right-wing politician, tried to parlay the 37 seats his party won into becoming prime minister, but he was forced to abandon that attempt. There are 150 seats in the Dutch parliament. The center-left Labor party and Green Left won the second highest number of seats. Schoof became Prime Minister instead of Wilders, forming a government consisting of the PVV, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the New Social Contract and the Farmer-Citizen Movement. That governing coalition was seated in July 2024. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
06-06-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Netherlands sets general election date after government collapse
1 of 2 | The Netherlands Friday scheduled a snap election for October 29 following the collapse of the government caused by the far-right Party for Freedom leaving the governing coalition. Prime Minister Dick Schoof told lawmakers he will manage critical policies focused on security in a caretaker role until the election. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo June 6 (UPI) -- The Netherlands Friday scheduled a snap election for Oct. 29 following the collapse of the government caused by the far-right Party for Freedom leaving the governing coalition. Outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Judith Uitermark announced the election date in a post on X. "In the coming period, I will work with the municipalities and other stakeholders to prepare so that this important day in our democracy goes smoothly!" Uitermark said. Prime Minister Dick Schoof's four-party governing coalition collapsed when Party for Freedom's leader Geert Wilders demanded radical slashing of migration. Schoof indicated in a message to lawmakers he will maintain control over critical policies in the months between now and the October election. "As far as I'm concerned, it's about security, both nationally and internationally, including support for Ukraine and everything that's needed for defense," Schoof said in the statement. The far-right Party for Freedom quit the Dutch government Tuesday, prompting Schoof to submit his resignation to King Willem-Alexander's cabinet. Schoof called the move to quit the government "irresponsible and unnecessary." The current cabinet will stay in place pending the general election to act as a caretaker government. "Schoof showed that he is not the right man in the right place. If you, as prime minister of a cabinet in which the PVV is the largest party, refuse to sign a letter about a stricter asylum policy and a tougher approach to criminal aliens, then you are unsuitable," Wilders said in a post on X. The PVV pulled off a shock victory in the November 2023 election gaining more seats than ever before for the far right. Wilders, an anti-Islamist right-wing politician, tried to parlay the 37 seats his party won into becoming prime minister, but he was forced to abandon that attempt. There are 150 seats in the Dutch parliament. The center-left Labor party and Green Left won the second highest number of seats. Schoof became Prime Minister instead of Wilders, forming a government consisting of the PVV, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the New Social Contract and the Farmer-Citizen Movement. That governing coalition was seated in July 2024.
