Buma to meet five party leaders again with no clear way forward

Sybrand Buma (in foreground) is due to submit his final report to parliament on Tuesday. Photo: ANP/ Sem van der Wal

Coalition talks leader Sybrand Buma will talk to the leaders of the five largest Dutch parties again on Monday in an effort to break the deadlock in efforts to form a new government.

The five parties – D66, CDA, VVD, GroenLinks-PvdA and JA21 – spent the weekend in contact by telephone, but there is no sign of a breakthrough.

Buma is due to deliver his final report to parliament on Tuesday, which will include an assessment of potential coalitions as the negotiations move into the next stage. CDA and D66 published a joint policy document last week that was supposed to form the basis for talks with other parties.

A minority combination of D66, CDA and the right-wing liberal VVD is now seen as the most feasible option. The three parties are due to meet Buma in the parliament complex later on Monday, while the other two will hold online meetings.

VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz has ruled out a four-way coalition with the left-wing alliance GL-PvdA, which would have a majority in parliament, while Rob Jetten, leader of the progressive liberal D66, is reluctant to bring the hard-right JA21 on board.

A three-way minority coalition would only have 66 seats in the lower house, 10 short of a majority, and be dependent on support from smaller parties to get its legislation through parliament.

GL-PvdA leader Jesse Klaver has said a minority cabinet would be a “crucial error” and reward for what he called the “blockading” by the VVD, but Yesilgöz has stood firm by her conviction that voters want a “centre-right” coalition with her party and JA21.

Buma suggested on Saturday that all five parties could form a “grand coalition” with 95 of the 150 seats in parliament and a majority in the Senate, but this idea was quickly snuffed out by the two right-wing parties.

JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans labelled it a “bit too creative”, while Yesilgöz said she would not join any cabinet including GL-PvdA or support it with a confidence and supply deal.

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