‘Purple plus’ is a big risk for the VVD, say party elders

Forming a coalition with three left of centre parties poses a big risk to the right-wing Liberal VVD, party stalwart Hans Wiegel says in an interview with the Telegraaf.

‘If you look at what Labour and the VVD said about each other [during the campaign], few voters would expect them to negotiate a new cabinet,’ Wiegel said.
And he pointed to a Maurice de Hond opinion poll which showed just 8% of VVD voters think a link up with Labour, D66 and GroenLinks is a good idea.
‘In terms of the electorate and contents, it is a risky adventure,’ he said.
Elections
Next year there are elections for the 12 provincial governments, which in turn determines the make-up of the upper house of parliament.
Others said Labour will be hurt most. ‘The VVD is being forced to negotiate with three parties it did not want to talk to. Labour is extremely naive if it thinks the VVD is prepared to water down its policies in order to bring peace,’ said former VVD leader Ed Nijpels.
Talks on forming a ‘purple plus’ cabinet, so called because of the mix of party colours, began in earnest on Monday. Liberal leader Rutte wanted to form a right wing cabinet with the Christian Democrats and the anti-Islam PVV, but the CDA refused to join in talks.