News of: Friday, October 08 2010,
Negotiations for a new government in the Netherlands have been rounded off. Holland will get a minority cabinet of Liberal Conservatives and Christian-Democrats, supported by Geert Wilders' anti-Islam party, the PVV.
After tedious and lengthy negotiations, the new Prime Minister, Mark Rutte is now forming his new cabinet.
The new government will be a minory cabinet, supported by Geert Wilders's PVV.
Last election results showed a move away from the large political parties in the middle, in favour of more extreme parties to the left and right side of the political spectrum.
Particularly, the PVV ('Freedom Party') has won considerably. With 24 seats in Parliament (of 150), it has become the third political party in the Netherlands.
Its main political point is anti-Islam. Geert Wilders wants to stop immigration from muslim countries, implement a ban on burkas, prohibit head-scarves in public service, taking away Dutch citizenship from citizens with a double nationality if they commit serious crimes, and other measures that are intended to stop what Wilders calls 'the islamization of the country'.
The anti-Islam controversy has dominated the political and public debate for a long time, and has made the formation of the new government difficult.
The issue is sensitive in the Netherlands, because many accuse the PVV of discrimination on ethnic/religious grounds, and this reminds people of what happened with the Jews, when Holland was occupied by Nazi Germany (1940-1945).
Parties on the left made it clear from the beginning they will have nothing to do with the PVV.
The Christian-Democrats (CDA) said they could not be in a coalition government in which there are also PVV ministers. However, a minority cabinet, supported in Parliament by the PVV was acceptable to the CDA.
Last weekend, after a long and emotional CDA congress, the congress voted 68% vs 32% in favour of participation in the minority cabinet.
The PVV will support the Liberal/Christian-Democrat government, in return for support for some of the PVV's policy points. Immigration will be made more difficult, and a ban on burka's will be implemented.
With the help of the PVV, the new cabinet will be supported by 76 of the 150 members of Parliament, which means it is only supported by 50% of the seats, plus one. As some CDA members had to coerced into the deal with great pressure, there are doubts about how stable the new government will be.
Critical members of Parliament of the CDA have already said they will keep criticizing the PVV.
