A number of parties want to give the King that role again in the next formation, instead of a scout appointed by the House of Representatives. Until 2012, the head of state appointed an (in)formateur after the elections and after discussions with faction leaders, and after that year the House took charge of the formation process.
King Willem-Alexander is briefed on the formation – he spoke to scout Sybrand van Buma Haersma on Monday – but he has no share in the process, as his mother did.
André Flach (SGP), who submitted a motion on behalf of VVD, CDA, BBB and Christian Union on Tuesday evening during the debate on the King’s budget, believes that the past three exploratory phases have been “a debacle” because there was “a fuss about people”. This damaged the reputation of the House of Representatives, Flach believes. According to him, “Dutch queens” succeeded in preventing that. They radiated “peace and stability.”
In 2021, scout Kasja Ollongren was photographed with a document containing the words ‘function elsewhere’, which referred to then MP Pieter Omtzigt. In 2023, scout Gom van Strien, appointed by the PVV, resigned before the exploration started. This time it was D66 member Hans Wijers.
Last week, during a press interview in Suriname, the king answered the question whether he would like to be involved that it was up to the House of Representatives itself. “The process is fully in the hands of the House of Representatives. They have included it in the Rules of Order. It is the wish of the House, the wish of the parliament.” Outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof responded in similar terms during the debate on Tuesday evening.
The question is whether the motion will receive a majority. Those five submitting parties have fifty seats. A large number of other parties, including D66 and Forum for Democracy, want to further limit the monarchy to a purely ceremonial function. JA21 has doubts, party leader Joost Eerdmans said on Tuesday evening that he “does not necessarily” see a role for the King and wondered whether the House of Representatives would not benefit “from better scouts”. Eerdmans also fears that involving the King in the process could damage the head of state. The vote will take place next week.
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Cabinet formation
D66 wants Rianne Letschert, chairman of the board of Maastricht University, as the new informant
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