Cabinet presents opposition with fresh budget offer
Prime Minister Jetten hopes proposals on purchasing power, social security and box 3 will still secure support.
The minority cabinet is presenting the opposition with a fresh package of proposals in the hope of securing sufficient support for the budget. No agreement has yet been reached on the precise content, and differences also remain within the coalition.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten says the cabinet will come forward with a new offer after the General Political Debate. The package should appeal to parties on both the left and right of the opposition. Talks will continue over the coming days; there is still no majority for the budget.
According to the prime minister, the proposals are substantively linked. They concern purchasing power, the future of social security and tax on income from assets, known as the box 3 tax. The cabinet has not yet announced exactly which amounts or measures will be adjusted.
The new step is therefore primarily of political significance. The cabinet is seeking support outside the D66, VVD and CDA coalition, while also having to prevent a concession to one party from discouraging another opposition party. CDA leader Henri Bontenbal said, according to NOS, that there had been daily consultations, but that the coalition had not yet agreed on all the components.
A structural issue is on the table concerning box 3. The cabinet is working on a system that taxes the actual return on assets. According to the official timetable, the new system is due to enter into force on 1 January 2028. The Lower House (Tweede Kamer) still has to consider the proposals and their associated budgetary consequences.
Social security is also part of the negotiations. In the Budget Day plans, several measures were postponed, including reducing the duration of unemployment benefit to 2029. This does not mean that all planned savings have been definitively scrapped; the precise outcome depends on the talks and parliamentary consideration.
Jetten also wants to talk to BBB, despite that party's earlier motion of no confidence in the cabinet. Meanwhile, ChristenUnie, 50Plus and Volt stress that support does not necessarily have to follow an explicitly left- or right-wing route. The forthcoming budget debates must make clear which combination of parties is prepared to support the package.
For now, what is chiefly established is a negotiating offer, not a political breakthrough. Until the measures have been set out in writing and accepted by the Lower House, it remains uncertain how much will actually change in box 3, purchasing power and social security.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The cabinet has announced a new offer to opposition parties.
- The subjects are purchasing power, social security and box 3.
- The concrete content and funding have not yet been finalised.
- Support outside the coalition is needed for the budget.
Left
Arguments Social security should not be used as the budget's residual item. If there is room to revise box 3, this perspective holds that it should primarily benefit people on low and middle incomes and benefit recipients.
Values Security of existence, redistribution and protection against poverty.
Consequences A compromise that leaves cuts to benefits in place could undermine income security; according to this view, higher charges on assets could be distributed more fairly.
Centre
Arguments The budget must be workable and financially funded. A broad majority requires limited concessions on several sides, while preserving the main lines of the coalition agreement.
Values Administrative stability, predictability and budgetary discipline.
Consequences A carefully crafted compromise could prevent political deadlock, but an unclear package could lead to fresh negotiations and implementation problems.
Right
Arguments The government should be cautious about scrapping savings and should not discourage economic growth and investment. From this perspective, social security reforms must remain affordable and keep work attractive.
Values Personal responsibility, economic dynamism and lower collective charges.
Consequences Too many concessions could increase the deficit or raise the tax burden; too little reform could put pressure on the sustainability of public finances.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article's central claims are directly confirmed by NOS and official budget documents. The text clearly distinguishes between a negotiating offer and an actual agreement.
- confirmed The cabinet is discussing a new package to secure opposition support for the budget. — NOS describes the new offer and the forthcoming talks. source
- confirmed The package concerns purchasing power, social security and box 3. — Prime Minister Jetten mentions this, according to NOS. source
- confirmed According to the official timetable, the new box 3 system is due to enter into force on 1 January 2028. — The Dutch national government gives this timetable. source
- confirmed Several social security measures have been postponed, including reducing the duration of unemployment benefit to 2029. — This is stated in the official explanation of the SZW plans. source
- confirmed There is still no final agreement on the package. — NOS reports that the talks are continuing and that differences remain. source
Editor's note
It is certain that the cabinet is discussing a new offer and that it covers purchasing power, social security and box 3. The concrete measures, funding and parliamentary support remain uncertain.Sources
- Minderheidskabinet spreekt met oppositie over nieuw aantrekkelijk aanbod — NOS
- Prinsjesdag 2026: maatregelen op het gebied van SZW — Rijksoverheid
- Brief regering: Box 3 — Tweede Kamer