Netherlands: still no coalition three months after the general election

Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PPV) is now setting the political rules in the Netherlands: it seems impossible to govern without it, because of its election results, but equally hard to govern with it, because its program is so different from the others.  The VVD’s liberals (key political party in the country) proposed that Wilders supported a minority coalition formed with the Christian Democrats (in power since 2002).  This advantageous solution would allow the right to govern without Wilders and without PVV Ministers, while Wilders wouldn’t suffer from disaffection from the public since he would directly be in control.  While the Liberals and Christian Democrats want to bring retirement age from 65 to 67 and cut the duration of unemployment compensation, Wilders refuses to infringe on those social rights.  Likewise, the Populist Party doesn’t want to make clear cuts into health expenses, whereas its interlocutors are aiming for drastic savings from the State budget - €18 billion a year.
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emocrats (in power since 2002). This advantageous solution would allow the right to govern without Wilders and without PVV Ministers, while Wilders wouldn’t suffer from disaffection from the public since he would directly be in control. While the Liberals and Christian Democrats want to bring retirement age from 65 to 67 and cut the duration of unemployment compensation, Wilders refuses to infringe on those social rights. Likewise, the Populist Party doesn’t want to make clear cuts into heal

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