Stop sounding off in public, cabinet hopefuls are told

The two negotiators in charge of the new round of coalition talks have warned party leaders to keep their discussions private rather than give statements to the press or make comments on social media.

“If you are going to negotiate via the press then things will become more difficult,” Elbert Dijkgraaf said after Monday’s meeting. “It is not banned, but it will make our job easier if as much as possible of what we discuss remains between us.”

Dijkgraaf was refering to the weekend spat between VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz and the PVV’s Geert Wilders over the government’s finances.

Yesilgöz told a television programme on Sunday that she plans to take a “tough” line in the negotiations and that having “clear financial limits” is of crucial importance to her party. “It is a fact that we must make major savings,” Yesilgöz said.

However, Wilders hit back on social media, saying no facts have yet been established. The negotiations still have to start, he said. “Nothing is not a fact,” Wilders wrote. “But the PVV does want lower costs for the people.”

On Monday it emerged that the government’s finances are not as bad as feared, and the budget deficit last year is likely to be no higher than 0.3% of GDP, well below the EU compliance level of 3% and the earlier estimate of 1.8%.  

Economists had warned that the new government will need to find savings of €17 billion to remain below the EU limits in the coming years. 

Nevertheless, it is too early to celebrate, said acting finance minister Steven van Weyenberg following the CBS publication, because the figures have been influenced by a variety of factors, many of which are one-offs.

The negotiations, currently focused on housing and public safety, will resume on Tuesday morning. In the afternoon, representatives from the benefits centre UWV, the tax office and government inspectorates will join the four parties for talks.