New delay for Dutch cabinet formation
ChristianUnion-leader Gert-Jan Segers. Photo ANP, Bart Maat
Western Europe
Investigator Mariëtte Hamer for the Dutch coalition formation needs more time. This implies a new delay in the formation of a new government.
According to the Reformatorisch Dagblad, Mrs Hamer asked Speaker Vera Bergkamp for a postponement of the deadline on Thursday. Initially, she would have published her final advice this weekend.
Hamer needs more time to investigate which parties want to govern with each other.
On Thursday, ChristianUnion-leader Gert-Jan Segers said "no" to any coalition. His party had two cabinet ministers in the past third Rutte government in the past four years. But Segers emphasised that his party "will not join the second nor the third attempt" in the formation process.
Number ten in size
After speaking with investigator Hamer, Segers said that he was willing to talk about policies constructively. But for the real cabinet formation, Mrs Hamer should consult other parties since the ChristianUnion is number ten in size in the present Lower House in the Netherlands.
"You really start with the largest parties," said the CU leader. "I have said that I am responsible for the content, so that is what I am talking about now. Quite special for a relatively small party, that you speak so emphatically about the content." The current coalition is also already working on plans because there are "real things that can't wait".
Some of the other parties in the present caretaker coalition want to carry on with the same parties, but Mr Segers is holding this off.
The elections were on March 17th, almost three months ago. It is still not clear which parties will be forming the new government.
