Green party GroenLinks and the Dutch Labour party PvdA are speeding up a referendum on a merger with a consultation among members taking place as early as this week.

The new party, which is yet to be named, won’t come into being until 2026, too late for the next elections which are expected to take place on October 29.

The two parties already worked together in the 2023 elections and the alliance won 25 seats, making it the second biggest party in parliament.

Apart from a yes or no to the merger, members will also be asked if they want to repeat the alliance come the general election later this year.

The referendum is taking place this week rather than at the party congress on June 21 because “speed is of the essence,” given the government collapse, a PvdA spokesman told broadcaster NOS.

Former European commissioner Frans Timmermans is expected to again head the alliance, and while he has expressed his willingness to do so, other candidates are free to come forward.

Members are expected to vote overwhelmingly in favour of the merger but there is dissent. A group comprised of former PvdA leader Ad Melkert and former chairs Gerdi Verbeet and Hans Spekman said they fear the merged party would set aside traditional social democratic values and become a party for the well-educated.