The Hague – As post-election maneuvering begins in the Netherlands, CDA leader Henri Bontenbal is signaling openness to a coalition with VVD and GroenLinks-PvdA, a move that comes as the CDA faces potential losses in parliamentary seats and the VVDS current leader, Yesilgöz, appears to be positioning her party for opposition.
Recent polling suggests the CDA is underperforming, prompting Bontenbal to explore broader coalition possibilities. He believes a stable national administration could be formed with VVD and GroenLinks-PvdA,citing potential common ground on issues like migration,where all three parties favor “moderate population growth” as advised by the state committee. This contrasts sharply with Yesilgöz’s repeated statements rejecting a governing partnership with groenlinks-PvdA,citing concerns about cabinet stability given the early collapses of previous VVD-led governments – most recently,the Rutte II cabinet (VVD and PvdA) and,before that,Kok I (PvdA,VVD,and D66).Yesilgöz is actively appealing to VVD supporters against a cabinet including CDA and GroenLinks-PvdA, having previously warned of “a mess” and significant problems if those parties were to govern together. She favors a coalition with JA21, BBB, CDA, and D66. However, within the VVD, there is growing expectation that Yesilgöz will be replaced by a new leader after the elections.
The potential for division within the right-wing bloc was highlighted by joost Eerdmans, who accused Bontenbal of lacking clarity regarding his political preferences, framing the choice as one between “a safe and sovereign Netherlands” or aligning with Frans Timmermans’ progressive agenda.
