Overview

• Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, announced he does not have enough support from prospective coalition partners to become the Dutch prime minister.
• Wilders' decision to step aside paves the way for a 'technical Cabinet' of experts, while his party continues to influence the government's direction.
• After winning the most votes in the November election, Wilders aims to eventually become prime minister, citing growing public support.
• Negotiations among Dutch political parties have led to a potential shift towards a government model similar to Italy's 'technical' administrations.
• Wilders has moderated some of his more extreme positions, such as withdrawing draft legislation to ban mosques, Islamic schools, and the Quran.