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Geert Wilders
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The formation of a government in the Netherlands has been postponed indefinitely following one of the key parties showing interest in a joint government with election-winning ultra-nationalist Geert Wilders said it was pulling out of the table.
The second-largest party in the lower house of parliament, the New Social Contract party, said it would not join a new coalition government with Wilders’ nationalist Freedom Party, citing irreconcilable differences.
Thus “New Social Contract”, which won 20 seats in the parliament in the early elections on November 22, practically blocked the formation of a right-wing government.
Party leader Pieter Omzicht withdrew from the talks on February 6, saying the state’s finances might not afford the costs future rulers were betting on.
‘Incredibly disappointing’: Key Wilders ally quits talks in Netherlands
Wilders has been negotiating with the New Social Contract, the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the farmers’ protest party Farmers-Citizens since November 24.
Now Wilders, who has 36 seats in parliament, can try to find new partners, which is difficult given the declared positions of the parliamentary parties, or form a minority government to rule with floating majorities.
The new situation extends the mandate of Mark Rutte’s government, which is out of office from July 2023.
Minority rule
A minority cabinet would be a good option to discuss, the New Social Contract leader commented following a meeting between party leaders and chief negotiator Ronald Plasterk, who is to form a coalition between them, on Monday.
“I think it would be a good idea for them to consider forming a minority cabinet,” he said. Liberal leader Dylan Yesilgöz made a similar offer at the start of talks regarding eight weeks ago, saying her party would be willing to support a minority coalition but not be part of it.
Who wants to work with Wilders: Dutch parties start cabinet talks
Omzicht, who left The Hague last Tuesday without informing the other three parties and the mediator, has now admitted that he did not act in the “best possible way”.
“It can happen if you’re a young party. I don’t think I’d do it like that a second time,” he said, adding that he tried calling Plasterk several times to explain, but to no avail.
The mediator himself – a former social minister in one of Rutte’s cabinets – presented a report on Monday from which it is understood that the “New Social Contract” will not join a government coalition. According to him, there is a possibility that the talks between the four formations will continue.
Wilders has repeatedly said he would shelve plans believed to violate the Dutch constitution, and Plasterk’s report showed he had sworn to his future partners to uphold the rule of law.
But that did not prove enough for the New Social Contract, and they said on Monday that “given the previous remarks and campaign program of the Freedom Party, the distance remains too great to join a majority or minority government”.
Peter Omzicht said he would consider providing external support to a minority government.
The lower house of parliament will discuss the next steps in forming the government on Wednesday.
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