Formation talks resume after Christmas break
Coalition talks resumed Monday after a Christmas pause as D66, VVD, and CDA restarted negotiations on forming a new Dutch government, confronting two unresolved issues: how to secure enough political support with only 66 seats in the Tweede Kamer and how to close looming budget gaps that could force cuts, tax hikes, or more debt. “This will be a crucial week,” informateur Rianne Letschert said on her first day back in the new year.
Sources told RTL Nieuws that the three parties are using the first days back to determine the shape of the next cabinet, including whether to bring in an additional coalition partner or rely on support agreements with opposition parties.
The trio lacks a majority by at least 10 seats, making legislation and budgets vulnerable without outside backing. A minority cabinet remains an option, though finding a fourth party is complicated by political vetoes: D66 prefers not to cooperate with JA21. At the same time, the VVD would welcome the right-wing party led by Joost Eerdmans. On the other hand, D66 supports GroenLinks-PvdA, under the leadership of Jesse Klaver, a party with 20 seats. That combination would yield a majority of 86 seats in the Tweede Kamer, or 75 seats if JA21 is included. Eerdmans said he is still waiting for signals from the negotiating table. “I’m curious,” he said.
Before Christmas, Letchert instructed the parties to explore various cooperation models to make a "definitive choice" in January. “There are several possibilities, and we are exploring them,” she said. “We need to make a decision this week. And financially, there are all kinds of scenarios and options.” D66 leader Rob Jetten underscored that point late last month, saying the parties “will have to start speaking with other parties in January.” During the formation pause, the parties continued to discuss the allocation of government funds, though Letschert said she does not yet know the outcomes. “I am going to find that out this week,” she said.
Formal talks resumed at a lower level Monday afternoon, with party deputies meeting first. Later this week, the party leaders are expected to join the discussions before the negotiations shift again to land De Zwaluwenberg in Hilversum, where earlier rounds were held. That schedule could still be affected by a Tweede Kamer debate on Venezuela and whether party leaders or foreign affairs spokespeople are required to attend.
Money is now a parallel focus of the talks, according to RTL's sources. Negotiators are weighing what the parties’ plans will cost and how to pay for them, with sensitive options on the table: allowing state debt to rise further, cutting spending, or raising taxes. The outcome of the financial talks will strongly influence coalition decisions, as tens of billions of euros in spending cuts may be required and parties will need to agree on the path forward. VVD sources warned that without clearer backing for budgets, the situation could resemble the turmoil surrounding the 2024 education budget, when the Schoof cabinet had to scramble for opposition support.
At the same time, the search for political support has widened. During the Christmas period, contacts continued behind the scenes with potential coalition or confidence-and-supply partners. One of those contacts was 50Plus, whose leader Jan Struijs said he received a New Year’s message from the negotiating parties, along with a question about whether he would be available to talk Monday.
“They’ve taken me along a bit in the process,” Struijs told AD. “We may be small, but we do have a package of demands. The purchasing power of older people has to improve; the construction of senior housing is important; and elderly care is important. On certain points, deals can certainly be made. In that sense, it’s also a bit of barter.”
Even a small opposition party such as 50Plus could become pivotal. Struijs could, in theory, put his signature under the trio’s financial framework in exchange for specific policy concessions important to his party, AD reminded.
