Defence minister Ruben Brekelmans has had to double back on his claim that the liberal VVD party could join a government with the left-wing alliance GL-PvdA after the election.

Brekelmans’ statement on TV show Buitenhof that a coalition with Frans Timmermans’ party was feasible, but had been complicated by the PvdA’s decision to merge with GroenLinks.

Brekelmans’ comments appeared to contradict VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz, who again ruled out a partnership with GL-PvdA at the weekend party conference.

Brekelmans, seen as a potential successor to Yeşilgöz, said on social media site X that he had not chosen his words carefully.

“Let me be very clear: a government with GroenLinks-PvdA has no credibility whatsoever  for the VVD.

“We do not see it as a stable cabinet for us or one that will make the right choices for the Netherlands.”

Yeşilgöz had previously said she favoured a centre-right coalition with parties such as the CDA, JA21 and the farmers’ party BBB – but not Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV, following the collapse of the last cabinet.

But at Saturday’s conference she said she would not join a cabinet that wanted to abolish mortgage tax relief (hypotheekrenteaftrek) – a policy the Christian Democrats support.

Yeşilgöz also said her party would be prepares to share power with the progressive liberal D66, but D66 leader Rob Jetten dismissed the idea at his party’s conference on Sunday.

Jetten said the next government needed to be “a broad-based cabinet of left and right to force a breakthrough” after the current right-wing coalition of PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB became deadlocked.

The latest EenVandaag opinion poll puts the VVD on 15 seats or 10% of the vote, its worst performance for four decades, while GL-PvdA would win 26 and the CDA 22. The PVV remains the front runner on 33 seats.