The biggest Dutch opposition party is prepared to strike deals with the incoming minority cabinet, but only under clear conditions, GroenLinks-PvdA party leader Jesse Klaver said on Friday.
Speaking at the party’s New Year reception in Den Bosch, Klaver said the alliance wants to pursue what he called “responsible opposition” and is open to negotiating agreements with D66, the VVD and the CDA before the summer.
The three parties are currently finalising their plans to form a minority coalition, which will rely on opposition parties to pass legislation through both houses of parliament. Klaver had earlier criticised plans for a minority cabinet, calling it a risky experiment given the lack of a majority in both parliament and the senate.
Following the break-up of the far-right PVV last week, his party is now the largest in opposition, with 20 seats in the 150-seat parliament, and can provide the votes needed to secure a majority in both houses.
Klaver said the party was choosing cooperation over letting the cabinet fail, citing global instability and the need to “help move the Netherlands forward”.
GroenLinks-PvdA, he said, is willing to work on major issues such as tackling nitrogen emissions, accelerating housing construction and repairing environmental damage.
At the same time, Klaver said his party would not support plans that shift the burden of paying for new policy onto ordinary people while sparing the wealthiest, or that limit access to healthcare or make it easier to sack workers. “That is where we draw the line,” he said.
VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz has blocked efforts by the other two parties to involve the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance as a potential opposition partner, saying the party was too radical.
At the same time, the split in the far-right PVV after seven of its MPs formed a breakaway party could also create opportunities for the incoming government. The new group, led by Gidi Markuszower, has said it wanted to “do business” with the minority coalition.
D66, VVD and CDA are due to present their coalition agreement next week and need to find billions of euros, partly to fund higher defence spending.
