Cabinet collapse: opposition reactions

The collapse of the Christian Democrat, Labour, ChristenUnie government was inevitable, opposition party leaders said in their initial reactions.


Socialist party leader Agnes Kant said she hoped new elections would be held as soon as possible. ‘It is right that voters now have their say,’ she said. ‘I am pleased about that, because there are difficult choices ahead.’
Femke Halsema, leader of the left-wing greens GroenLinks said Labour’s decision to pull out of the cabinet was brave, but will affect the party for years to come. ‘A CDA Labour coalition is unlikely for years to come,’ she said. ‘And that will have a major effect on the future’
Alexander Pechtold, leader of the Liberal democrats D66 said the cabinet’s collapse had been unavoidable. ‘Trust between the ministers disappeared weeks ago,’ he said. Both parties were equally to blame, he said.
The government had been ruled by a lack of decision-making, he said. ‘The Netherlands has lost three years, thanks to this government’s lack of ambition.’

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