Politics•14 Mar ’24 4:09 PM•Adapted on 14 Mar ’24 7:38 PMAuthor: BNR Web Editors
According to informant Kim Putters, a so-called program cabinet is the desired form of an extra-parliamentary cabinet. Such a cabinet will be based on a concise outline agreement. Putters assumes an ‘extra-parliamentary variant’ with PVV, VVD, BBB and NSC. A cabinet can then be formed to draw up a government programme. The current faction leaders will remain in the House under this construction.
Kim Putters argues for an extra-parliamentary program cabinet
16 min 4 sec
As far as Putters is concerned, PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB must continue negotiating regarding a program cabinet. As far as Putters is concerned, the outline agreement must be able to count on broad support in the House of Representatives. Putters said this when presenting his final report to Chamber President Martin Bosma. For a fruitful collaboration, he believes it is crucial how the collaborating parties want to connect with each other, based on political, programmatic and personal connections.
‘The fact that Wilders believes that the path to the premiership has been cut off for him really makes no sense at all’
Leendert Beekman, political reporter
Also read | Wilders no prime minister, leaders of four parties remain in Parliament
In the final information phase, Putters went through all variants ‘meticulously and systematically’. His conclusion was that it is now not possible to achieve a regular majority, minority or tolerating cabinet. ‘There is support among the four parties mentioned for further exploring a form of an extra-parliamentary cabinet, a program cabinet. In my view, this fits with the current political situation and the social context that I have outlined.’
Programmatic connection, main lines agreement and staffing
By programmatic binding, Putters refers to the actual building blocks of a cabinet: the agreements that are made at a number of levels: cooperation agreements between the four factions and, if possible, with other factions. ‘The core of this is agreeing on careful working methods and manners, for example how you deal with submitting and covering motions and amendments, or how you respond to unexpected events in the outside world.’
Brief outline agreement
According to Putters, a second crucial building block is a concise outline agreement, in which agreements are made regarding the ‘frameworks and policy goals’ that the cabinet is given. ‘My advice for the next information round focuses, as I just said, mainly on this part. A cabinet can then be formed on the basis of an outline agreement. The cabinet draws up a government program in which the main lines are elaborated into concrete measures that the cabinet will implement.’
Also read | Wilders no prime minister, leaders of four parties remain in Parliament
Putters advises to explicitly involve other authorities, implementers and the social field in the development of these main lines. He sees the staffing of a cabinet as the third form of bonding. ‘During the last information round, the manner in which a program cabinet is staffed was also discussed. In a cabinet that is formed extra-parliamentarily, forming that team is crucial. After all; Developing and implementing a government program within the framework of an outline agreement requires a lot from a cabinet as a team, and in dealings with the Chambers.’
‘Wilders’ comments regarding premiership make no sense at all’
It has now become clear that PVV leader Geert Wilders considers it ‘constitutionally incorrect and undemocratic’ that he should not become Prime Minister, while his party is the largest. He said that this morning before he went to informer Kim Putters’ house. Due to a blockade by NSC and VVD, he has stepped aside, but he does not do so wholeheartedly.
According to informant Kim Putters, a so-called program cabinet is the desired form of an extra-parliamentary cabinet. This is based on a concise outline agreement, based on an extra-parliamentary variant with PVV, VVD, BBB and NSC. (ANP / ANP)
The crucial point, according to political reporter Leendert Beekman, is ‘trust’. And there is still some work to be done. “The fact that Wilders believes that the path to the premiership has been cut off for him makes absolutely no sense,” says Beekman. From a constitutional point of view, the largest party does not have to provide the prime minister at all, he has no right to do so. The House of Representatives is elected during the elections and a cabinet is formed from the parties.’
Also read | Wilders disappointed, ‘I think it’s unfair, not as it should be in democracy’
Putters advocates an ‘urgent approach to major social issues, the relationship between citizens and government that is under great pressure and declining institutional trust’, with a new relationship between the cabinet and House(s) and more room for the students’ own substantive input. the parliament as co-legislator. The degree of bonding on three important points is important for fruitful political cooperation.
Balanced mix
A new team of ministers must be a balanced mix of people from inside and outside politics, says Putters. According to him, this is the conclusion of the round of discussions he had with PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB. A good mix of people in the cabinet will, among other things, do justice to the election results and also lead to social anchoring of the cabinet.
Also read | Formation to the next phase: ‘There seems to be mutual trust’
Putters just presented his final report. We already knew a lot, such as that the PVV, as the largest party, will not provide the prime minister and that the political leaders of the forming parties will all remain in the House of Representatives. Putters still tempered expectations. ‘People rightly expect that a cabinet will soon be established that will quickly tackle the social challenges. Trust is the basis for every cabinet.’
