Wilders' walkout creates uncertainty for voters

Ataa Bodin is glad the Dutch government has fallen. “It’s good,” said the 34-year-old Syrian who lives in the Netherlands. “I have a passport, the father of my daughter is Dutch but for other people it’s difficult. They can’t just go back to Syria like counting to three.”

- By Senay Boztas

Last Tuesday, far-right populist Geert Wilders collapsed his first government after failing to break open the coalition agreement to add 10 new policies on asylum - including deporting Syrians with temporary residency within six months, forcibly if necessary.

Eleven months into a four-party coalition described by Dutch media as an “unhappy marriage”, Wilders walked out, resigning all of his ministers with immediate effect. His former coalition partners reacted with fury, saying there was no disagreement about reducing asylum and labelling Wilders a political footballer faking a foul.

On the streets of south-east Amsterdam - where a recent investigation revealed that children were sleeping in garages and cars because their parents could not find housing - there was a sense of both relief and confusion.

For Ahmed Abubakar, 41, from Somalia and with five children, the fall of the government was confusing. “I don’t know if it’s good news,” he said. “We live in two rooms. I’ve been on WoningNet [social housing list] for 11 years.”