[1/6] Dutch parties' lead candidates meet for the first time after elections, in which far-right politician Geert Wilders booked major gains, to begin coalition talks in The Hague, Netherlands, November 24, 2023. In a foretaste of how difficult coalition building talks may prove after Wednesday's election, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative VVD Party on Friday ruled out joining a cabinet led by Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV). Wilders' election win led to protests in several cities. Wilders named Gom van Strien, a member of his own party in the Dutch Senate, as scout. Should Wilders' efforts eventually fail, other parties could try to build a more centrist coalition without him.

---

Persons: Geert Wilders, de Wouw, right's Wilders, Wilders, Mark Rutte's, Dilan Yesilgoz, Gom van Strien, Pieter Omtzigt, Caroline van der Plas, wouldn't, Van Strien, Van Strien's, Toby Sterling, Bart Meijer, Ingrid Melander, Nick Macfie, Toby Chopra, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Party, AMSTERDAM, Freedom Party, EU, Labour, Green, Greenpeace, Dutch Senate, New, European Union, Farmer, Citizen Movement, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, Dutch