Two dissident Christian Democrat MPs have finally voted in favour of their party forming a new governing alliance which will involve the anti-Islam PVV.

The unanimous decision from the 21 CDA MPs means the next stage in the coalition formation process – the appointment of ministers – can now be taken.
On Monday night, acting party leader Maxime Verhagen told reporters ‘there are no dissidents any more’, leading commentators to speculate that a behind the scenes deal had been done.
Pressure
The two, Kathleen Ferrier and Ad Koppejan, had come under considerable pressure to fall into line. They were known to feel supported by the result of Saturday’s CDA ratification conference at which 32% of delegates voted against the tie up with the PVV.
Verhagen said after Tuesday’s meeting that the entire group of 21 MPs will take into account the fact that there is sizeable opposition to the alliance within the party.
‘We will be critical of the effects of the coalition agreements,’ Verhagen told the assembled press, ‘and keep a close eye on CDA principles.’
The two dissidents will also be able to opt out of voting in favour of particular policies they oppose, he said.
Without their support, the proposed right-wing coalition would only be able to count on 74 of the 150 seats in parliament. This would have forced cabinet negotiator Ivo Opstelten to tell the queen he has not been able to form a stable coalition.

More to follow