The three parties involved in talks on forming a new government have put March 7, the day of the provincial elections, as the latest deadline to complete the cabinet talks, prime minister and Christian Democrat leader Jan Pieter Balkenende said on Saturday evening.

Speaking at the CDA New Year drinks party, Balkenende also praised the Labour and ChristenUnie leaders Wouter Bos and André Rouvoet for their role in the talks so far. The new cabinet would focus on ‘quality, involvement and cohesion, and participation, he said.