Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam party PVV and alliance partner with the current minority cabinet, will consider agreeing to housing market reforms if the Christian Democrats sanction ‘hefty’ cuts in aid spending.

Wilders told RTL news on Thursday ‘everything’ is up for discussion at the forthcoming negotiations on a new package of government savings. But there will be no reforms – as the CDA wants – unless the party agrees to a reduction in spending on development aid, he said. Wilders earlier called for a €4bn reduction.
The minority government of VVD and CDA will start negotiations with the PVV on March 5. Economists believe up to €15bn-worth of new cuts will be needed to reduce the Dutch budget deficit, which reached 4.9% at the end of last year.