As the deadline for submitting the draft budget to the Council of State looms on Monday, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has announced that opposition parties will not engage in further budget negotiations with the Cabinet. According to Jetten, the government has already put forward a comprehensive proposal that aligns with the priorities established in prior discussions, and it is now up to the coalition to make a final decision. However, he also noted that the door remains open for additional talks, potentially before Budget Day on September 15.
The current scenario is atypical as the coalition lacks assured support for its budget proposal in the Dutch lower house. Jetten, along with other high-ranking ministers, has highlighted the necessity of securing more extensive parliamentary backing. Tensions within the coalition have surfaced as well, with reports indicating a divergence between D66 and CDA on one side and VVD on the other regarding strategies for engaging with opposition parties. VVD harbors concerns that fostering closer ties with the largest opposition party might strain its relations with the right-wing party JA21.
Though Jetten has downplayed any rumors of a coalition crisis, opposition parties have indicated that no further discussions are scheduled for the weekend. Communications between the government and opposition appear to have largely stalled as the deadline approaches.