Election: VVD leader says coalition with Labour is 'a long way off'

Thursday 06 September 2012

Prime minister and VVD leader Mark Rutte has a ‘strong preference’ to be in a new government with the Christian Democrats, he told Nos television on Thursday.

We have always worked well together, Rutte said. ‘The CDA is a party you are pleased to be with.’

With six days to go before the election, Rutte’s VVD still leads the pack in the polls. However, over the past week, the PvdA has overtaken the Socialists and is now challenging for the top spot.

The VVD and CDA are currently in a minority coalition. Their government had been propped up by the anti-immigration PVV but the alliance collapsed when Geert Wilders’ party pulled out of austerity talks.

Purple

On Wednesday, Rutte told current affairs programme Nieuwsuur that a purple coalition – an alliance between the right-wing VVD, the Liberal democrats D66 and Labour (PvdA) – is a very long way off.

When the current administration was being formed, a purple coalition was one of the options which was discussed. But Rutte said that is unlikely to happen ‘now the PvdA has shown its red feathers’.

Rutte earlier distanced himself from the Socialist Party which he said would ‘destroy prosperity’.

Nevertheless, Rutte may find himself forced to deal with the PvdA after the September 12 vote as the polls indicate a centre-right coalition may be impossible.

© DutchNews.nl