The minority coalition and its alliance partner on Monday imposed ‘total media silence’ on themselves in connection with their negotiations to try to find at least €9bn in spending cuts and savings.

The ban on press comments is designed to increase the chances of success by discouraging public debate about the options on the table, prime minister Mark Rutte said before the talks began.
Rutte, acting CDA leader Maxime Verhagen and PVV leader Geert Wilders have set aside at least three weeks to try to reach agreement on a new round of cuts. The reduction in government spending is necessary to bring the budget deficit back in line with eurozone rules.
Wilders said before going into the talks he is prepared to accept ‘painful savings’ if these are coupled with non-financial measures of importance to PVV voters. These include a reduction in immigration, the PVV leader said.
The talks are taking place at the prime minister’s Catshuis residence.