Netherlands enters delicate round of coalition talks

(MENAFN) The Netherlands has entered a critical stage of coalition negotiations as three centrist and center-right parties explore forming a new government following one of the closest elections in recent memory. Analysts say the outcome will be pivotal in determining whether the country can reassert itself as a stable and dependable partner within the European Union after years of political upheaval.

The snap election on October 29 produced a highly fragmented parliament: the centrist Democrats 66 (D66) and the far-right PVV led by Geert Wilders each secured 26 seats out of 150. D66 recorded a notable gain of over 10% compared to the previous vote, while the PVV lost around 7% of its support.

In early December, government negotiator Sybrand van Haersma Buma announced that coalition talks would begin between D66, the conservative Christian Democrats (CDA), and the liberal VVD. Collectively, the three parties hold 66 seats—short of the 76 needed for a majority—prompting discussions about forming either a minority government or expanding the coalition to include a fourth party.

The Netherlands has a history of prolonged negotiations and fragile administrations. In recent years, several Cabinets have collapsed prematurely, with disagreements over migration, climate policy, and EU regulations placing additional pressure on the country’s credibility in Brussels.

Elizabeth Kuiper, associate director at the Brussels-based European Policy Center, noted that the election results reflected a wider voter shift after a period of instability. “The unexpected loss of nearly a third of Wilders’ voters after a notably subdued campaign, combined with the credibility damage inflicted by the chaotic Schoof Cabinet, was not anticipated,” she said. The Schoof Cabinet, formed in July 2024 under Prime Minister Dick Schoof, was a delicate four-party coalition established after the 2023 election.

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