Centrist Dutch party opens door to 4-party coalition talks

Drawn-out talks to form a new Dutch ruling coalition have been given a boost

Netherlands Politics (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Drawn-out talks to form a new Dutch ruling coalition got a boost Thursday when the leader of the country's second-biggest party said she is prepared to begin negotiations to re-form the same four-party Cabinet whose resignation in January triggered a general election.

The statement by former foreign minister Sigrid Kaag, leader of the centrist D66 party, appeared to open the way for the start of formal talks on a new coalition expected to be led by caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte

D66, Rutte's party and the Christian Democrats were meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss progress in more than six months of on-off coalition talks. Rutte entered the talks without speaking to waiting reporters.

If Rutte's conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, Kaag's D66, the Christian Democrats and the Christian Union agree to rule together again, they will enter the next phase of coalition talks in which they seek to nail down a policy blueprint for the coming four-year term.

Kaag long ruled out joining a coalition with the Christian Union party due to ideological differences, but lifted that blockade in recent days in an attempt to breathe new life into the ailing talks.

She said she wants an ambitious policy blueprint for the next government.

“This means that the Netherlands will become a climate frontrunner in Europe, that we will make the largest structural investment in education ever and that the Netherlands will take a leading role at the European Union,” Kaag said.

She said her party wants the new coalition to be “more progressive, more generous, more open and more humane.”

But she sounded a note of caution ahead of prospective talks.

“Will it work? I do not know,” Kaag said.

Jesse Klaver, leader of the Green Left opposition party, said the coalition had failed to tackle crises including chronic housing shortages, the climate and inequality during its last term.

“Why would that be different if the coalition continues?"he tweeted. "What the Netherlands needs is change. This is more of the same.”

Populist anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders slammed Kaag's decision, saying it was aimed at preventing her party being punished by voters in new elections.