Netherlands on course for minority coalition government

The Netherlands may soon have a minority government after the leaders of three political parties announced on Friday that they would continue coalition talks.

At a joint press conference, the leaders of the centrist D66 party — the big winner of last October’s national election — along with the center-right Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and the liberal VVD, said they would press ahead without other partners.

That configuration sidelines JA21, a hard-right party that the VVD had expressed a desire to include, but whose views on climate, immigration and Europe were a tough sell for D66.

If an agreement is reached, the three parties would together control just 66 seats in the Dutch parliament, 10 seats short of a majority, forcing the prospective coalition to seek outside support for individual proposals and legislation.

Minority governments are unusual in the Netherlands and are seen as more vulnerable to collapse.

Speaking on Friday, D66 leader Rob Jetten acknowledged that “it is going to be hard work,” but said he was confident the coalition could succeed.