Jetten postpones budget talks with opposition
Government seeks support after General Political Debate, but is not starting with BBB.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten wants to continue talks with opposition parties on the budget and tax plan in the coming weeks. The first invitations will go to six parliamentary groups; BBB will remain outside the talks for now after supporting a motion of no confidence.
The Jetten cabinet has no majority in either house and must therefore seek support from opposition parties. During the General Political Debate, Jetten said he wanted a broad agreement on the Budget Memorandum, because budgets and tax plans ultimately need sufficient parliamentary support.
After the debate, Jetten announced that JA21, SGP, ChristenUnie, 50PLUS, Volt and PRO would be invited first. BBB will not receive an invitation for now. According to the prime minister, by supporting a motion of no confidence, the party sent a clear political signal.
The choice caused irritation among BBB leader Vermeer. Jetten said contact with BBB remained possible, but that the cabinet first wanted to speak to parties that had indicated they wished to continue talking constructively. According to the prime minister, there is not a uniform tone within the coalition on how quickly BBB should be brought back into the process.
According to Jetten, the talks should focus on three subjects. These are how work can pay more, the design of box 3 and the investment climate, and the scope for employers and employees to reach a social agreement.
Opposition parties argue instead that the cabinet must make a clearer choice between a left-wing and a right-wing course. PRO leader Klaver warned in the parliamentary debate that broad ambitions without clear majorities could result in administrative paralysis. The cabinet says that substantive compromises between different parliamentary groups are precisely what is possible.
The time pressure remains considerable. Jetten described the vote on the tax plan in November as an important moment on the way to an agreement on the budgets. Until then, parties can amend proposals, but the political balance remains uncertain. The upcoming talks are therefore both substantive negotiations and a test of the minority cabinet’s viability.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The cabinet has no fixed majority.
- Jetten wants to start with six opposition parties.
- BBB will not be invited for now.
- The budget and tax plan will later need parliamentary support.
Left
Arguments Wants the cabinet to protect social security, tax wealth more heavily and not negotiate reforms only with right-wing parties.
Values Redistribution, security of existence and public services.
Consequences Fears that an agreement with right-wing parties will lead to cuts to social security and less public investment.
Centre
Arguments Sees broad negotiations as necessary in a fragmented parliament and wants to seek workable compromises on each subject.
Values Stability, governability and institutional continuity.
Consequences Emphasises that a workable agreement is more important than an ideologically pure choice for the left or right.
Right
Arguments Wants the cabinet to make a clearer choice in favour of lower taxes, stricter migration and security measures, and less dependence on the left-wing opposition.
Values Personal responsibility, national control and a lower tax burden.
Consequences Fears that broad compromises will lead to higher spending, higher taxes and delays to necessary reforms.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The political situation is based on official parliamentary and cabinet sources and an NOS report on BBB. Expectations about the outcome are expressed as uncertainty.
- confirmed The cabinet has no majority and is seeking support from opposition parties. — The Lower House describes the minority cabinet and the desired broad support. source
- confirmed Jetten invited JA21, SGP, ChristenUnie, 50PLUS, Volt and PRO. — Mentioned in the official press conference of 18 September. source
- confirmed BBB was not invited for now after the party supported a motion of no confidence. — Jetten explained this at the press conference; NOS reported on the political consequence. source
- confirmed The talks will include work, box 3 and a social agreement. — These three themes appear in the official cabinet account. source
Editor's note
The invitations, BBB’s position and the subjects Jetten mentions are certain. It remains uncertain whether the talks will lead to majorities and a stable budget agreement.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „kabinet-jetten begroting”
- NU.nl — „kabinet-jetten begroting”
- De Telegraaf — „kabinet-jetten begroting”