But Caroline van der Plas stated on Wednesday that it is ‘her perception’ that PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB can reach an agreement. “We’ll see, we have a whole day.” And: “I am a positive person.”
NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt did not seem to entirely share that positivism. “We are working hard and we will see where we get.”
PVV leader Geert Wilders did not want to make predictions. “One day it goes fast, the other day less. The weather is easier to predict than this.” However, he said he hopes that ‘it will really be ready this week’. “Every day is a final day. We are in the final phase, we are all doing our best. Every day it becomes more exciting and we get closer to that finish line.” Everyone, Wilders stated, feels the increasing pressure.
Time is running out
Informants Richard van Zwol and Elbert Dijkgraaf were less positive on Tuesday evening than on Monday after a negotiation day of almost eleven hours, although they did say that the talks went well.
According to the duo, the ‘exchange’ started on Monday: parties let go of previous positions in exchange for other matters that are more important to them. Making such compromises can hurt. “Logically there are heated discussions,” said informant Elbert Dijkgraaf.
Caroline van der Plas says that it ‘goes crazy sometimes’. “But there is also a lot of laughter.”
Time is running out for the formation quartet, the informants also stated on Tuesday. Van Zwol and Dijkgraaf must present their final report on May 15. “It will be really exciting,” Dijkgraaf said on Tuesday morning. “We really don’t know whether it will work.”
The informateur duo seems to be extending that deadline. According to Dijkgraaf, the report must be sent to the House of Representatives no later than 11:59 PM on May 15. Minus Ascension Day and the weekend, this gives the formation quartet four days to reach an outline agreement.
Tags: Van der Plas positive formation informateurs Hope reach agreement today
