Traditionally, King Willem-Alexander spoke today the Speech from the Throne from. But where he normally presents the plans of the government, today this was substantively meager. What does the speech say about the formation process?
“The emptiness of the Speech from the Throne today was really painful,” says political reporter Arjan Noorlander. “There was nothing to announce. So it became more of an annual overview, something the king normally does at Christmas.”
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An attempt at a helping hand from outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, that is how Noorlander sees the king’s speech today. The text was largely written by the VVD leader. “He must try to break the impasse in The Hague. Very carefully, there was a warning: we cannot go on forever with this formation.”
Rutte announced this week that – during the General Political Reflections – another 1 billion euros will be divided between the parties in the House of Representatives. It concerns money that was initially intended for business. Noorlander calls the VVD “kickbacks” to force steps in the formation. “If the seven middle parties succeed in dividing the money, then his idea is: then the cooperation will also be good for the next four years.”
New elections?
meanwhile plead some parties for new elections. There is only a practical problem, says professor of constitutional law Wim Voermans. “It takes three months to prepare elections. So we would have to decide now to have new elections, then it can be just before Christmas. Next year the municipal elections will be in March. And because you are not too close to the elections can hold each other, you could only hold new elections in May. That late is very undesirable.”
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Noorlander does not see new elections happening anytime soon. “That is not something that falls into the Dutch tradition. The awareness to talk to achieve a majority is very great. After all, we are the country of the polder model.”
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How can such a lengthy formation be prevented in the future? A new formation law offers a solution, says Voermans. A law that ensures tight deadlines: if the party(ies) concerned fail to form a new cabinet in time, new elections will be held. According to Voermans, such a system is already being used by thirteen countries in the European Union.
“This rule has two positive elements,” says Voermans. “Firstly, an upward pressure on the formation. People have to start moving. Secondly: if it is nothing and there are new elections, then that voter can speak out about the formation process.”
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