According to NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt, there are still ‘significant differences of opinion’ on ‘several themes’ between the four parties negotiating a new cabinet. He did not want to say where the problems lie. Informants Dijkgraaf and Van Zwol say that the formation ‘could certainly fail’.
The party leaders of the PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB will continue to negotiate in the coming days. Only during Ascension Day is the consultation in principle at a standstill. However, time is running out and the informants have until next week to reach an agreement. Their final report must be submitted to the House of Representatives on May 15.
Looking tired
A tired Omtzigt thinks it is possible to bridge the differences. He estimates that it is still possible to conclude the negotiations before May 15. “Of course it would have been more fun if we had been out today.”
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PVV leader Geert Wilders expects that the parties will be able to reach an agreement. ‘I think it’s possible. It’s just going to take a while.’ According to Caroline van der Plas (BBB), the negotiators ‘just need a little more time to explain some things.’
There is a will to form a cabinet
The parties have been discussing the formation of a right-wing cabinet for more than five months. Whether the four of them will reach an agreement remains uncertain, according to informants Elbert Dijkgraaf and Richard van Zwol. According to them, the discussions are tough, but according to Dijkgraaf it can ‘certainly’ still fail. ‘There are difficult hurdles that we have to overcome, and it must prove that we can overcome them.’
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There is the will to reach an agreement among the four negotiating parties, says Dijkgraaf. he after the third long day of negotiations between PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB. ‘If you have been involved with each other for so long and so intensively for a period of time, you would have pulled the plug at some point. And there have been plenty of those moments.’
The significant differences of opinion that NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt talked about on Wednesday after the discussions are not new differences of opinion, according to informant Richard van Zwol. ‘The four parties at the table have different views. Over time, views have really converged, but some of the existing differences still exist.’
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Counting buttons, through Friday
Tomorrow, Ascension Day, there will be work behind the scenes, but no plenary negotiations are planned. ‘That is also necessary, because a lot has changed in recent days. So let’s count the knots and consult with others. And then we will continue full speed plenary again on Friday.’ Discussions may continue on Saturday and next week.
