Talks on forming a new government in the Netherlands continued on Tuesday with Edith Schippers, who has been charged with looking into a possible coalition, holding a second round of discussions with four parties.

VVD leader Mark Rutte, who is set to serve a third term as prime minister, was the first to talk to Schippers, followed by CDA leader Sybrand Buma. Third on the list is D66 leader Alexander Pechtold and Jesse Klaver of GroenLinks will complete the line-up.

Rutte, who said on Monday he would prefer a cabinet with the VVD, CDA, D66 and a fourth party, declined to answer questions after Tuesday’s session.

Buma said the next cabinet had a few tough issues to deal with, namely immigration and integration, the Labour market and the position of average earners.

Klaver told reporters that it would be very difficult for GroenLinks and the VVD to be in the same coalition. The two parties’ plans are wide apart and ‘I don’t know if those distances can be bridged,’ Klaver said.

Schippers is due to report back on her findings so far on Wednesday. On Thursday the new MPs will debate the report and possibly appoint an informateur – the person who will negotiate the actual coalition agreement.