Four Dutch parties finally agree on forming coalition government after nearly seven months of talks

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Mark Rutte talks to the press at Binnenhof, in The Hague on October 9, 2017. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:02pm, 9 Oct 2017Updated: 11:01pm, 9 Oct 2017

The leaders of four Dutch parties agreed on Monday to a draft programme for a new centre-right coalition government after 208 days of tough negotiations. Led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte, it will probably push policies further to the right.

Centrist Democrats 66 leader Alexander Pechtold said that after years of austerity, the new government will reward voters with lower taxes.

Alexander Pechtold from Democrats 66, talks to the press at Binnenhof. Photo: AFP

“We are coming out of crisis, so we can invest, taxes can be lowered,” Pechtold told reporters.

Rutte is expected to officially unveil the programme on Tuesday along with the leaders of the Christian Democrats, the D66 party and a faith-based party, the Christian Union.

The leaders spent a final morning checking the agreement before heading to their parliamentary offices to present it to their parties’ lawmakers, who could still suggest minor changes. Such changes, if necessary, could set off yet a new round of bargaining between the parties.

A March 14, 2017, photo of Democrats 66 party leader Alexander Pechtold, right-wing populist leader Geert Wilders, Socialist Party leader Emile Roemer, Party for the Animals’ Marianne Thieme, Green Left party leader Jesse Klaver, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Gert-Jan Segers of the Christian Union, Labour Party leader Lodewijk Asscher, and Christan Democrats party leader Sybrand Buma pose for a picture after the closing debate at parliament in The Hague. Photo: AP