Dutch coalition talks have shifted from exploratory talks to more concrete negotiations aimed at establishing a mainly technocratic government after far-right leader Geert Wilders admitted he has no chance of becoming prime minister. I will proceed with this.
Four months after Mr Wilders’ anti-Muslim Freedom Party (PVV) became the largest party in parliament, former Socialist Party senator Kim Patters, who will oversee the talks, said it would be based on a cabinet of military veterans and outside experts. He said he would continue.
In a long-awaited report published on Thursday, Mr Patters said the four parties involved – the PVV, the liberal-conservative party VVD, the agrarian party BBB and the centre-right new party NSC – would pursue an “extra-parliamentary” government. He said he agreed.
Mr Patters said they would “strive to have a balanced mix of ministers from both inside and outside of politics”. “Given the discussions that have taken place, we think it would be wise to try to separate, for example, 50% of people with political connections and 50% of people from outside.”
The arbitrator said that given the differences between the four parties, it would be impossible to form a PVV-led coalition government with a parliamentary majority or a minority government operating with parliamentary support. He stated that he had reached the conclusion that
Mr Wilders reluctantly acknowledged on Wednesday that he lacked support from his potential coalition allies to become the next prime minister. He said on Thursday that the only person who fully supported his ambitions was populist BBB leader Caroline van der Plas.
He said that while the forced withdrawal was unjust, the priority was to form a right-wing cabinet. “In the end, I made the decision not to take my position, no matter how hurtful it was, how unfair I thought it was, and no matter how constitutionally wrong I thought it was.”
Media reports indicate that a technocratic cabinet (which requires all four party leaders in the coalition to remain members of parliament and hold ministerial positions) is specifically requested by the NSC to support the PVV-led majority government. He suggested that this was compensation for the
Mr Patters’ report notes that detailed coalition agreements (a more or less binding blueprint for governments) are usually shorter and less specific, as MPs will have a much greater say in individual policy. suggested that it should be lowered.
Although the Netherlands has not had such a government since 1918, the concept is well known in other European countries, including Italy. It is unclear how exactly that would work in the Netherlands, but Mr Wilders is likely to propose a new prime minister.
The PVV campaigned on a populist, anti-immigration platform and won 37 seats in the November elections, far more than expected, but fell far short of a majority in the 150-member parliament. There are 88 MPs between the four potential coalition partners.
Mr Wilders said on Thursday that many people who voted for the PVV in the hope that it would become prime minister if it became the largest party were angry, “and I am just as angry as they are.” said. But he said a right-wing government could “bring a lot to the Netherlands.”
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Political commentators said Wilders’ decision could benefit him. NOS political editor Zander van der Ulp said: “As leader of the parliament he can continue to play a more important role with more freedom.” “He doesn’t have to act in the name of his four partners.”
Parliament will debate Mr Patters’ report next week before deciding on next steps. Talks between the four parties have remained tense so far, with NSC leader Pieter Omzicht resigning in February due to irreconcilable differences with Wilders.
Far-right firebrand Wilders, who has been convicted of inciting discrimination against Dutch-Moroccans, has advocated for anti-constitutional policies, including bans on mosques, the Koran, Islamic headscarves, and a “nexit” referendum to leave Morocco. We had to withdraw our manifesto commitments. Although he was a member of the European Union, he insisted on Wednesday that he would one day become prime minister.
“With the support of more Dutch people, if not tomorrow, then the day after,” he told X. “Millions of Dutch people will have their voices heard!”
