As of: 09/29/2021 6:40 p.m.
The attempt to form a new government in the Netherlands has been going on for six months. Now there is talk of a coalition without a treaty – but that too is an expression of desperation.
Again, no white smoke in The Hague: On Monday evening, the last attempt to form a new Dutch government also failed. Even the option of a minority government made up of left-wing liberals, Christian Democrats and the liberal-conservative VVD of Prime Minister Mark Rutte is off the table. It could have been the last resort to the political stalemate in which the Netherlands has been stuck since the parliamentary elections in March.
There is no support for the minority government variant, writes Johan Remkes in a letter about the talks. In the Dutch political system, as an “informateur”, he has the task of bringing together possible coalition partners as a kind of impartial party. But that was particularly difficult this time, emphasized Remkes a few weeks ago. Not only are the ideas of the parties too different, the way they deal with one another also leaves a lot to be desired.
The informator asks for an interview. But Johan Remkes (right) could not elicit more than friendly gestures of greeting from the party leaders.
Image: AFP
Disappointments and reproaches
In the spring, it initially looked like a clear government mandate for Mark Rutte’s VVD. It became the strongest force again in March and has a strong partner of choice in the left-liberal D66, with whom it has ruled together so far.
In the Netherlands, however, many parties are traditionally represented in parliament, 17 there are currently. So for a stable government you need four to five allies. That seems ruled out by now, because human disappointments and mutual accusations have increased since the election.
No confidence vote during the negotiations
First, Rutte alienated the Christian Democrats. In internal documents, the prime minister called for the harshest critics to be praised – the first scandal. This was followed by a vote of no confidence in parliament, which Rutte only barely survived. In the summer, several ministers fell over the Afghanistan withdrawal, which has also damaged the left-wing liberals.
In addition, several possible coalition partners exclude cooperation from one another. For example, the liberals do not want to make common cause with the arch-conservative Christians, Ruttes VVD, in turn, rules out the simultaneous participation of Social Democrats and Greens. But both only want to join a government together. And so a deadlock has arisen, a breakthrough seems increasingly unlikely.
Standstill endangers the budget
The Dutch have long followed the coalition thriller with equanimity. The country is used to lengthy negotiations, and the corona crisis dominated the public debate until well into the summer. In the meantime, however, the pressure on politics is growing.
The Rutte government is still in office, but its hands are tied in many areas. Especially when it comes to the budget and thus also the distribution of reconstruction aid after the corona crisis. The longer the stalemate lasts, the greater the money worries become. “Our country urgently needs a new cabinet,” warned Informateur Remkes on Monday. And now makes one last attempt.
If they fail, there is a risk of new elections
Remkes has once again invited nine parties to a meeting, including small parliamentary groups and independent individual candidates. Everyone who stands for the constructive middle now has to take responsibility, he warned.
A so-called extra-parliamentary government appears to him as a last resort. They would not have a joint coalition agreement, but would only agree on rough political lines. There would be no compulsory faction.
The parties say that this is a desperate step. All other options seem exhausted. Should this also fail, then there is only one way out: new elections, possibly as early as this autumn.