The financial calculations used by the Christian Democrats (CDA) and Labour (PvdA) in their election manifestos are full of holes, say sources at the government’s CPB economic policy think-tank in today’s Volkskrant.

The CDA manifesto states that efficiency improvements in healthcare will lead to savings of €4 bn, but sources told the paper €2bn is more realistic. And the €3.6 bn Labour hopes to save on the civil service will be nearer €2.7 bn. Dutch political parties traditionally give their manifestos to the CPB for analysis.