The constituent parties will meet again after a two-week rest. And this happens in the shelter of an estate in Hilversum. PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB need to make progress because the first deadline is approaching.
Whistleblower Ronald Plasterk must inform the House of Representatives about the progress before the beginning of February, but his task is very important. Election winner and PVV leader Geert Wilders is eager to start governing. But the VVD and NSC are hesitant to participate in a cabinet, preferring to opt for a tolerance role (VVD) or supporting a minority cabinet (NSC). At the same time, BBB’s Caroline van der Plas tries hard to keep things together.
Over the holidays the politicians took a break from training and discussions were held “informally” in the first week of 2024, whistleblower Plasterk said before Christmas. It is not known who spoke to whom last week, nor if there was any discussion: the parties have fully embraced the traditional radio silence surrounding the formation.
Lots of bumps
It is up to the whistleblower Plasterk to remove the numerous obstacles before he has to inform the House, within the deadline set by himself, “at the latest at the beginning of February”, whether the right-wing government has a serious chance. Please note: there does not need to be a coalition agreement yet, it just needs to be clear whether these parties think they can reach an agreement in the next round.
Plasterk uses a commonly used training trick for this purpose: the party leaders and seconds move to the De Zwaluuwenberg estate in Hilversum – which was also the training stage in 2007, 2017 and 2021. The parties hope to continue the talks there starting Tuesday, away from the media.
After weeks of searching around, it seems the real work is now starting. Progress must be made, because the four parties already agree on one thing: the Netherlands wants a short formation.
The Constitution
This gets complicated: First the parties have to agree on the rule of law and fundamental rights. Plasterk wrote in his scout council that there should be discussion about “a common baseline to safeguard the Constitution.” While political opponents immediately scoffed at the fact that the Constitution was being negotiated, constituent parties say that this is in fact not the case.
What matters is that above all the NSC considers it important to agree on exactly how the future government will guarantee citizens’ fundamental rights. So no negotiations. Geert Wilders says he wants to suspend his most extreme thoughts and statements, but PVV members have not hesitated in the past to launch plans or make statements that violate fundamental rights. Take Wilders’ statement “fewer Moroccans”, for which the party leader was also condemned, or the plan contained in the election manifesto to ban the Koran and close mosques. Omtzigt wonders if these types of ideas are not in the “party’s DNA”. It’s nice to have a fridge like this, but how much does Wilders really want to put away? These issues must be expressed before the content can be discussed, the parties agreed.
PVV leader Geert Wilders. ©ANP
Content
Plasterk also wants to address a number of issues during this training cycle: migration, social security, good governance and good finances, a healthy economic climate, climate, nitrogen and agriculture.
There are also some obstacles in the way. Let’s take the climate for example. The PVV recognizes climate change, Wilders said in the election campaign, but does not want to invest in “expensive climate measures”. Instead, he wants us to adapt to climate change, for example by building higher dams. VVD and NSC will have little sympathy for this: VVD has made great efforts to combat global warming in recent governments. The NSC says it wants to join international treaties, including the Paris climate agreement.
Another issue that could divide the emerging parties is Ukraine. VVD, NSC and to a lesser extent BBB say they want to continue supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia. The PVV, on the other hand, wants to suspend all financial and military support to the Eastern European country. It would be better for that money to end up in the Dutchman’s wallet, Wilders says. Taking into account Wilders’ previous kind words towards Russian leader Putin and his compliments to Hungarian pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, it is clear that discussions on this topic can also be difficult.
And these are by no means the only breaking points. For example, the BBB will make many demands regarding agricultural policy and nitrogen, the NSC wants a constitutional court, the PVV’s flexible approach to financial coverage of their plans will be discussed, and much more.
Whistleblower Ronald Plasterk also wants to address a number of weighty issues in this training cycle: migration, social security, good governance and good finances, a healthy economic climate, climate, nitrogen and agriculture. ©ANP
The module
Then even the shape of the toilet, which is normally quite obvious, is a complicated issue. Dilan Yesilgöz opened the exploration with a bomb: the VVD only wants to tolerate. Thus he pulled the grass from Omtzigt’s feet, because even his NSC would prefer to abstain from full participation in the cabinet due to objections to the PVV. A cabinet with two tolerant parties will be complicated, but will either of them eventually give in and still occupy a full seat in the cabinet?
Then there is also the question of the prime minister on the table. Recent parliamentary history dictates that Wilders, as leader of the largest party, will become prime minister. But the PVV leader also leaves open the possibility that someone else will enter the Tower. Another party could still provide the prime minister. But Omtzigt’s dream corporate cabinet also seems to be an option. Subsequently, independent specialized ministers take over the cabinet. The name of the whistleblower Ronald Plasterk even seems like an option for the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. So everything is still open.
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2024-01-07 17:45:45
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