Putting together the government’s spending plans for 2011 while a new coalition which wants to cut spending by €18bn is being put together is a ‘tricky process’, acting finance minister Jan Kees de Jager said on Friday.

De Jager held 90 minutes of talks about the current economic situation facing the country and the need for new austerity measures with cabinet negotiator Ivo Opstelten on Friday.
The minister said it is important that the measures he implements do not double up with spending cuts planned by the new coalition. De Jager needs to find cuts of up to €2.5bn to compensate for overspending by some ministries.
Two discussions about government cuts are currently under way but each measure can only be implemented once, he said.
De Jager, a Christian Democrat, declined to comment on suggestions he could retain his job in the next cabinet.