Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and deputy premier Wouter Bos will debate the future of the Dutch mission in Afghanistan in parliament this afternoon, as speculation grows that the cabinet is about to collapse.

The debate was called by Socialist Party leader Agnes Kant, who said she wanted to get to the bottom of the mixed messages being sent out by ministers.
Labour party leader Wouter Bos said on Wednesday he will categorically not support any extension to the Dutch mission in Afghanistan, despite the formal request by Nato. And he wants minister to say a final no to Nato after Friday’s cabinet meeting.
But Balkenende wants Dutch soldiers to stay on past August to train local forces. ‘All options are open,’ the Christian Democratic party leader said.
Opposition
‘This infighting among ministers has to stop now,’ Kant said.
Opposition MPs are convinced the cabinet is poised to collapse. Afghanistan is the second difficult issue to divide Balkenende and Bos in recent weeks.
VVD leader Mark Rutte said the cabinet’s recent performance has been embarrassing. ‘There are 2,000 Dutch men and women sitting there watching this floundering around,’ he told news agency ANP.
The debate is due to begin at 16.15 and can be followed live on Nos tv
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