A coalition with Geert Wilders’ anti-immigration PVV party would be ‘very difficult’ but should not be ruled out altogether, says prime minister Jan Peter Balkenede (Christian Democrat) in an interview with the Nederlands Dagblad on Thursday.

According to Balkenende, Wilders’ negative stance on Europe damages the Dutch economy. ‘How can you withdraw to behind the dykes when your economy is so dependent on the European Union,’ he is quoted as saying.
Nevertheless, Balkenende said he does not rule out working with the PVV altogether. ‘You don’t exclude people in advance in a democracy,’ he told the paper.