CDA crisis over for now, coalition talks with PVV to continue

Thursday 02 September 2010

After two days of crisis, all 21 Christian Democrat MPs have agreed to press on with talks on forming a new coalition government with the right wing Liberals and Geert Wilders' anti-Islam PVV.

On Tuesday and Wednesday party officials were locked in crisis talks with MPs after opposition to an alliance with Wilders mounted.

'I am very glad that all 21 of us could reach this [decision] in unity,' acting party leader Maxime Verhagen told reporters after two days of upheaval within the CDA.

Negotiations

Ank Bijleveld will take over the job of second lead in the negotiations from Ab Klink, who has made it clear he does not personally back an alliance with the PVV.

Klink and two other anti-PVV MPs, Kathleen Ferrier and Ad Koppejan, will outline their objections to the alliance at a CDA congress after the coalition accord has been finalised.

The crisis within the CDA came to a head on Wednesday evening with the publication of a letter from Klink in which he outlines his objections to the PVV and says talks with the party are a no go for him personally.

Open mind

He told reporters in the early hours of Thursday morning he would keep an open mind. 'At the end [of the negotiations] we will judge if the objections have been removed,' he was quoted as saying by Nos tv.

The VVD and CDA plan to form a minority government which will be supported by the PVV in terms of economic policy. In return, Wilders wants tough new agreements on immigration and integration and has made it clear he will continue to speak his mind about Islam.

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See also:
Right wing talks are beyond repair

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