The government should ignore the Council of State’s objections to legislation aimed at reducing the number of asylum seekers coming to the Netherlands and press ahead with the laws anyway, Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right PVV, said on Monday.

But the NSC, which holds the key to the legislation’s future, has not yet commented publicly on the council’s position, despite saying earlier it would not support the laws if the advisory body was highly critical.

The legislation, part of a package dubbed “the strictest asylum regime ever,” should be introduced as soon as possible and the council’s advice changes nothing, Wilders said on social media.

“Luckily it is just advice,” Wilders said. “It is high time to opt for the interests of the Dutch, not the foreigners… so these tough new immigration laws need to be introduced as quickly as possible and without changes.”

Other laws, which would stop refugees being given priority in social housing and which would stop local councils being required by law to provide their fair share of accommodation for refugees, “must also be introduced in the very short term,” Wilders said.

Cabinet collapse

Wilders and immigration minister Marjolein Faber both said on Friday they would not accept any amendments to the plans, with Wilders again threatening that the coalition could collapse over the issue.

On Monday morning, the council, which is the government’s most senior advisory body, told Faber not to submit two pieces of legislation as they are. The Council of State, which advises on all draft laws, said that the proposals “do not convincingly demonstrate that the measures will actually help limit the influx or make asylum procedures more efficient.”

There is no practical or scientific evidence that there will be an impact, the ruling said. “There are no figures in the notes which show how big the reduction [in applications] will be and how long this will take.”

On the contrary, the rulings state, the measures are likely to place additional strain on both the immigration service and the legal system.

VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz has yet to respond to the recommendations, but did retweet a comment by MP Queeny Rajkowski saying Faber should press ahead with the legislation quickly, with as few delays as possible.

All eyes are now on the NSC, which campaigned in the general election as a party of good governance.

Fooled

Meanwhile opposition parties say the council’s recommendations highlight how incompetent the government is.

“After months of hard work, negotiations and working through the night with the brightest PVV brains, the cabinet comes up with an asylum plan,” said D66 leader Rob Jetten. “The result, no reduction in numbers. Those who really want a cut in immigration have been fooled by this cabinet for months.”

Labour party MP Kati Piri said the legislation will lead to greater chaos and have no impact on refugee numbers. “This is symbol politics and will make the problems worse for refugees and society,” she said. “The cabinet needs to go back to the drawing board.”