The left-wing green party GroenLinks on Wednesday followed the Christian Democrats and pulled out of talks aimed at giving the cabinet a majority in the senate for its €6bn austerity package.

GroenLinks leader Bram van Oijk said there is no guarantee the talks will lead to a result he could be proud of. Under these circumstances ‘it would not be responsible to remain at the negotiating table,’ he said on Wednesday afternoon.

Finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem is continuing to talk to the D66 Liberal democrats and two minor Christian parties ChristenUnie and SGP. Between them the three parties control eight senate seats, enough to give the cabinet a majority of one in the 75-seat upper house.