Senators from nine of the 11 parties represented in the upper house of parliament have written to cabinet negotiator Ivo Opstelten warning him not to take their support for a new government for granted.

The letter points out that the senate is fully empowered to tear up draft legislation submitted to it for approval. And, the senators say, they want Opstelten to pay more attention to the implications of a minority government on the upper house.
If the CDA and VVD succeed in forming a minority government, they will not be able to count on PVV support in the senate because the anti-Islam party is not represented.
Opstelten has already said he does not consider this to be a problem because a new senate will be elected in May.
However, senators say Opstelten was charged by queen Beatrix with putting together a cabinet which can count on a ‘fruitful relationship’ with both houses of parliament.

Budget
The lack of support in the senate will also affect next year’s government spending plans which are traditionally rubber-stamped by the upper house.
The budget is due to be presented on the third Tuesday in September.
Even if a new government has been put together by then, there will not be time to make significant changes to the proposals drawn up by the outgoing administration.
But opposition from the senate could halt any controversial moves which a new coalition manages to squeeze in.