ANPVVD member Johan Remkes was an informant for the Rutte IV cabinet in 2021
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 13:33
Former informant Remkes thinks that the formation of a ‘normal’ majority cabinet of PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB is impossible. He argues in the TV program Outside court for a different type of cabinet, for example an extra-parliamentary cabinet or a cabinet with a tolerance structure.
He believes that the factions of the four political parties must first answer the question of what type of cabinet should actually be formed. “That’s what it’s all about,” said Remkes.
Former VVD MP, former minister and former King’s Commissioner Remkes enjoys a lot of authority in The Hague and has recently been especially praised for his ability to bring conflicting parties together. After a difficult and lengthy cabinet formation in 2021, he managed to create a cabinet of VVD, D66, CDA and the Christian Union, the Rutte IV cabinet.
Sealed coalition agreements
Tomorrow the current informer Plasterk will give his advice and according to Remkes the ‘form question’ is now the most important thing. A majority cabinet will really not work, Remkes thinks, because NSC leader Omtzigt has indicated from the start that he does not want to be in such a cabinet.
He also understands the NSC leader’s choice to withdraw from the formation talks for the time being. “He had the feeling, I think, of being sucked into a process from which he could not later escape.”
Remkes has been chairman of the State Committee on the Parliamentary System and has noticed in recent years that the relationship between the cabinet and the House of Representatives is not good. Due to rigid coalition agreements, the House is bound by all kinds of agreements and coalition parties actually have little say. That has to change, says Remkes.
Personal title
In any case, a coalition agreement should be written in outline. “There does not necessarily have to be a majority.” The faction leaders could propose names of possible ministers who would then join a cabinet in a personal capacity. “We don’t have that tradition in the Netherlands, but in Denmark it works reasonably well.”
Remkes further believes that Omtzigt’s objections have not been dealt with properly. In a formation, the negotiating parties must empathize with the other’s position. As far as he is concerned, there must be an informant in the next formation round in whom the NSC leader has confidence. “Comfort must be offered to everyone.”
‘Closed valves’
Remkes has little appreciation for the way in which the four parties have interacted with each other. He talks about “disrespectful behavior”. “Everyone was tweeting, which spoiled the atmosphere.” He himself is said to have said to the negotiating parties: “Shut the valves”. “But as a superficial observer, I don’t know whether Plasterk also did that.”
He no longer wants to be an informant. “There are plenty of people who can do this.”
2024-02-11 12:33:31
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