Wilders' party

The potential new foreign minister of the Netherlands, Caspar Veldkamp, who was previously against Bulgaria's entry into the Schengen Zone by land, is likely to assume office, according to sources in The Hague reported by Bulgarian media "Club Z".

The Netherlands has formed a new government, prompting speculation about potential implications for Bulgaria's status in the Schengen Agreement. Since March 31, Bulgaria has been part of Schengen for air and sea travel, but entry by land requires unanimous approval from EU member states. The timing for such a vote remains uncertain, with hopes it could happen by year-end.

As Bulgaria awaits full acceptance into the Schengen zone, Momchil Indjov, a Club Z correspondent in Brussels, emphasizes the crucial role of the Netherlands in determining the country's fate. Indjov highlights the necessity for a new vote by EU member states, with the Netherlands once again needing to affirm its approval.

A Dutch court convicted populist anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders of hate speech Dec. 9 at the end of a trial he branded a politically motivated "charade" that endangered freedom of speech.