In a major setback for the formation of the next Dutch government, negotiations came to a halt on Tuesday night following the resignation of Pieter Omtzigt, leader of the New Social Contract (NSC) party. Omtzigt cited disagreements over the government's financial strategy as the reason for his departure from the talks.

According to Dutch public broadcaster NOS, Omtzigt's party could potentially support a minority Cabinet, while staying out of the government. This development has left far-right leader Geert Wilders disappointed, who expressed his confusion over Omtzigt's decision to leave the negotiations.

Omtzigt's participation was crucial in securing support for a center-right majority government involving four parties, including Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom (PVV). Wilders, whose hard-line views on immigration and Islam were previously considered politically toxic, had a remarkable victory in the November elections.

Negotiator Ronald Plasterk, who led the coalition talks, denied allegations made by Omtzigt that he withheld important information about the state of government finances from various ministries for several days. Plasterk labeled Omtzigt's account as "muddled" and extended an invitation for the four parties to meet and clarify any misunderstandings. However, Omtzigt declined the invitation, as reported by public broadcaster NOS.

Dilan Yeşilgöz, leader of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte's center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), expressed her surprise upon hearing the news of Omtzigt's departure. She stated that the conversations were constructive, including the day of Omtzigt's resignation, and hopes to meet soon to understand the situation better.

Wilders has faced difficulties in forming a coalition, with migration issues emerging as a significant stumbling block during the talks. In January, some VVD lawmakers voted in favor of a law that granted the Dutch government the power to compel municipalities to accept asylum seekers, contradicting the recommendation made by the four party leaders.

Despite the challenges, Wilders seems to have gained momentum during the sluggish negotiations. The POLITICO's Poll of Polls indicates that the PVV party's voter support has risen to 32 percent, up from 24 percent in November. Additionally, a recent poll by Peil.nl suggests that the PVV party would secure 50 seats if an election were held today, which is 13 more than their previous result.

The collapse of these government formation talks raises uncertainty regarding the future leadership and direction of the Dutch government. It remains to be seen how the remaining parties will address the challenges and resume negotiations to form a stable government.