The moment the party leaders Rutte, Kaag, Hoekstra, Segers and associates are out, they go to their groups with the agreement. They discuss the document among themselves and give their opinion to the negotiators, who may have to make some adjustments here and there.
This is followed by the official presentation of the agreement, the content of which will traditionally have largely been leaked. Undoubtedly, at that presentation, the four party leaders say the agreement is “balanced” and “ambitious”, and the phrases “confident in the future” and “working now”.
At that time, the latter certainly applies to Rutte, who will be appointed as formateur if everything goes as expected in a debate with the House of Representatives. Then he can start the job interviews. Who will be visited by formateur Rutte is already being discussed in the final phase of the negotiations.
Puzzle
Once it is clear which party is putting forward who, a security screening of the candidates follows. One by one, the intended ministers and state secretaries meet with the intended Prime Minister Rutte.
This asks, among other things, about financial interests that may play a role (think of Hoekstra and his investment in the Virgin Islands) and other matters that could have political consequences (think of Philomena Bijlhout, who had to resign as State Secretary in 2002 after a few hours because she was wearing a Surinamese army uniform. turned out to be in the photo).
The formateur also inquires of ministers and state secretaries who are in danger of ending up together in the department whether they can get through a door together. That sometimes leads to puzzles. For example, Joop den Uyl had to peddle in the formation of 1972-73 with VARA celebrity Marcel van Dam at four intended ministers. The first three did not want “the troublemaker” as State Secretary.
Missed a tour of the Binnenhof with Xander and Herman? They also talked this week about how Mark Rutte runs between the negotiating table and the corona consultations. Watch the video here:
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