Cabinet formation should begin with discussions among the PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB regarding three possible obstacles. Only then does it make sense to negotiate. That recommendation will be included in scout Ronald Plasterk’s report, people who spoke to NOS said.
The first conversation is about the “rule of law”, where NSC boss Pieter Omtzigt’s objections to certain parts of the PVV election program are discussed. According to him, these violate the constitution and international agreements such as the ban on Islamic education and Nexit. VVD and BBB also want to talk about this issue.
The second potential obstacle relates to issues that seem important to the parties: Are the priorities not too far apart and can the parties at least agree on what should be on the negotiating agenda?
When it comes to immigration, for example, all four parties have already said they think it is very important. It is not clear how this applies to livestock farming, regional hospitals or the pension system, for example. So can we talk about support for Ukraine and how new policies will be financed, or will this end immediately?
The third difficult point is the shape of the cabinet. Will this be an economic cabinet away from the House of Representatives, as NSC boss Omtzigt wants? Or is a tolerant cabinet preferred, as VVD boss Yeşilgöz wants? Or is cooperation only possible with a “traditional” cabinet?
If the four parties can reach an agreement and trust each other enough, negotiations can begin. This will probably take a few weeks. The next step is to prepare a substantive and workable coalition agreement.
For example, if an obstacle turns out to be too big, it may also end in advance. Only at the last moment, that is, when everything is finalized, the question of who will be the new prime minister will be answered.
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Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
