D66, CDA, VVD move forward on minority coalition plan, snubbing left-wing faction

The moderator tasked with finding in-roads to form a new governing coalition in the Netherlands confirmed on Monday that right-wing incumbent party VVD will press ahead with the next phase of formation talks. The informateur at this stage, Leeuwarden Mayor Sybrand Buma, said the discussion will continue with D66, the centrist party that won a plurality of votes in the recent election, and the moderate-right CDA.

It is not yet clear how the three parties may be able to agree on a fourth party to hold majority support in either the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Parliament, or the Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate. While Buma has not ruled out the possibility of a majority-backed coalition, he also did not rule out the chance of a minority Cabinet when he handed in his report to Tweede Kamer Chair Thom van Campen (VVD).

“These parties need to seek broad support in both chambers,” Buma said at a press conference. “That can be achieved on an occasional or structural basis." The informateur recommended that the three parties forming a Cabinet speak to several other parties during the process. "Forming a Cabinet involves considerable consultation with other groups and requires a spirit of give and take, of conceding to others along the way.

Buma was repeatedly asked about concerns regarding the formation of a coalition government that does not hold majority support in Parliament. If the three parties will not compromise in a way that brings either GroenLinks-PvdA or JA21 to the table, they will hold 66 of the 150 seats in the Tweede Kamer, and 22 of the 75 seats in the Eerste Kamer, the lower and upper houses of Parliament, respectively.

“There is no reason for me to advise for a majority government now,” Buma said to one reporter. “I cannot force the parties in my recommendation to do that.”

To this point, D66 indicated in talks with Buma that the centruist party prefers a minority government without the GroenLinks-PvdA left-wing faction, than a much more right-wing Cabinet that would come by bringing in JA21. Instead, the coalition can try to be more flexible to gain support on a case-by-case basis.

But with JA21 at the table, it will be much harder, Buma’s report noted when summarizing D66's position. The party believes it “will be less likely to achieve fluctuating majorities on the right and left.”

Last week, D66 and the CDA published a foundational policy document, but the VVD believes it requires further adjustments. The party has stated that, although the document includes good ideas, it needs to be “expanded and fleshed out.”

The formation document from D66 and the CDA concentrated on migration, nitrogen, housing, the economy, and defense. “There are choices in it that I see very differently,” Yeşilgöz told reporters. “I wouldn’t discard it entirely, but I also wouldn’t say it’s finished with just a couple of footnotes.” She highlighted the absence of proposals on finance and security. “The tough issues still remain.”

According to the VVD, this marks a step forward toward a majority Cabinet. The party favors cooperation with JA21 but has not ruled out a minority Cabinet. Together, D66, CDA, and VVD hold 66 seats in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, and lack a clear majority in the Senate.

GroenLinks-PvdA leader Jesse Klaver expressed dismay with the news, stating that the parties had let the voters who voted for change down. “The VVD is being rewarded for its blockade,” the GroenLinks–PvdA leader commented, referring to VVD's stance that they would not work with GroenLinks-PvdA. He stated that it a “risky experiment.” After leaving a conversation with Buma earlier in the day, a visibly frustrated Klaver added, “Just look around, the world is on fire.”

Earlier on Monday, Buma held four meetings. The first was with the party leaders of D66, the VVD, and the CDA, followed by a one-on-one conversation with Joost Eerdmans, the leader of hard-right JA21. He then met with Klaver, before again meeting with Jetten, Yesilgoz, and Bontenbal.

Rob Jetten (D66) expressed that he is “happy we can now make progress.” Just last week, informateur Buma concluded that forming a majority or minority coalition with enough support was not possible. Jetten said the new negotiations aim to get “an ambitious Cabinet on the steps as quickly as possible.”

CDA leader Henri Bontenbal took a more cautious stance: “I want to avoid excessive optimism; we are still in the midst of the process. A Cabinet only exists once it is truly formed.”

Earlier on Monday, Buma held four meetings. The first was with the party leaders of D66, the VVD, and the CDA, followed by a one-on-one conversation with Joost Eerdmans, the leader of hard-right JA21. He then met with Klaver, before again meeting with Jetten, Yesilgoz, and Bontenbal.

The Tweede Kamer will discuss the next steps in the Cabinet formation on Wednesday.