After his conversation with Buma, Klaver spoke sharply on Thursday about the message he gave the informant. “I made it clear to him that choosing a minority cabinet now is a crucial mistake. It is rewarding the blocking behavior of the VVD. What the country needs now are breakthroughs. That requires a majority cabinet and we are really necessary for that,” he sounds almost desperate.
Klaver responded very curtly to questions. Steam just barely came out of his ears. He did not want to confirm whether he had been told by Buma that GL/PvdA had dropped out in this phase. “I cannot say anything about what Mr Buma tells me.”
Eerdmans: JA21 will not enter a cabinet without the VVD
Earlier in the day, JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans visited Buma. He also offered more insight into his position in the match. JA21 will not join a cabinet without the VVD, was what he wanted to tell Buma. Yesterday, the smallest parties visited the CDA member to discuss the formation of a new cabinet. Today it is the turn of the largest factions in the House of Representatives.
More than a month after the elections, there is gradually more clarity about which parties should sit down together to discuss forming a new cabinet and what course this coalition should take.
D66 in particular is still a bit hesitant about the option with JA21
One of the most logical options is a center-right cabinet of D66, VVD, CDA and JA21. But D66 in particular is still a bit hesitant about this. As an interim phase, scout Wouter Koolmees previously thought that D66 and CDA should start writing a plan for cabinet policy. That piece is finished. They call it a ‘reaching out’ to all parties. “We will pick that up,” said Eerdmans on Thursday morning upon arrival at Buma.
After the GL/PvdA formation blockade, small parties are being looked at, but they say: ‘Don’t start polishing the D66 crown jewels’
Eerdmans still sees areas for improvement in the writing. According to him, D66 and CDA have put something on paper that they as middle parties may be very satisfied with, he would like to see it move to the right.
D66’s preferred option is a middle cabinet of D66, VVD, GL/PvdA and CDA, but the VVD blocks that option by adhering to their decision not to join a cabinet with GL/PvdA.
VVD leader Yesilgöz would prefer JA21 to take that place. Eerdmans really likes that and even said on Thursday that his party will not enter a cabinet without the VVD.
Courtship between VVD and JA21
How strong the courtship between VVD and JA21 is may become clear later today. Yesilgöz also comes for coffee at Buma, just like GL/PvdA and the PVV.
The question is what parties actually put on the table at Buma and what conclusions the informant draws from it.
After the GL/PvdA formation blockade, small parties are being looked at, but they say: ‘Don’t start polishing the D66 crown jewels’
‘Not warm to minority cabinet’
Most small parties who spoke to the informant on Wednesday say they are not interested in such a minority cabinet. They are also already putting points on the table that they would like to win if things go that way and the coalition has to look for constructive parties that are prepared to support such a minority cabinet.