Geert Wilders says it is ‘constitutionally wrong’ that he had to sacrifice his leadership ambitions

By MIKE CORDER
Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders says it is unfair and “constitutionally wrong” that he had to sacrifice his leadership aspirations in order to pave the way for a right-wing ruling coalition in the Netherlands after his party won elections in November. Wilders said Wednesday night that he was giving up his bid, at least for now, to become prime minister because he did not have the full support of all three parties he is negotiating with to form a ruling coalition. The official overseeing the coalition talks on Thursday proposed a Cabinet made up of a mix of representatives of the four parties and experts from outside politics. He called such a Cabinet “the only possibility for a fruitful political cooperation at the moment.”