D66 and CDA start talks on migration, will consider other views

The two parties holding preliminary talks to form the next Dutch government have said they will bear other parties’ views in mind in drawing up an outline coalition agreement.

Rob Jetten, leader of the liberal D66 party, said he and CDA leader Henri Bontenbal would look at other parties “on the left and right” and “not just articulate our own point of view”.

The leaders and their deputies will start the process by examining asylum and immigration policy, with an emphasis on “less disruption, less inward migration and making sure newcomers can participate in society earlier,” Jetten said.

The two parties will invite experts in the field to brief them during the talks. “It would be arrogant of us to think that we as politicians know everything,” Bontenbal added.

D66 and CDA need other parties to join them in a coalition as they only hold 44 of the 150 seats in parliament. The right-wing VVD, with 22 seats, is also seen as essential, but its leader Dilan Yesilgöz has ruled out sharing power with the left-wing alliance GL-PvdA, even though that would give the cabinet 86 seats and a solid majority.

Buma chairs alone

Yesilgöz’s preference is what she calls a “centre-right cabinet” with the hard-right JA21, which would have 75 seats, just short of an outright majority.

The talks, chaired by former CDA leader and mayor of Leeuwarden Sybrand Buma, will focus on five key policy areas: immigration and asylum, energy, nitrogen reduction, security and housing. Buma is due to report back to parliament on December 9.

Originally Buma was supposed to share the role with former D66 minister Hans Wijers, but Wijers was forced to step down last week after private app messages surfaced in which he made derogatory comments about Yesilgöz. D66 opted not to replace Wijers.