LIVE | PvdA members do not lie in advance for collaboration with Rutte | Inland

Our reporter Niels Rigter is present and twitters along live. His tweets can be found at the bottom of this post.

Motion Rutte remains untreated

The PvdA has decided not to vote on the motion: ‘Don’t govern with Rutte.’ This was successfully objected to, because the motion allegedly violated party rules. Due to this decision, the party can join the formation table together with GroenLinks without any problems. The only point at which cooperation with that party could have been jeopardized remains unaddressed, so that a round of voting on the cooperation with Klaver is no longer necessary.

Klaver previously argued that cooperation with the PvdA is necessary, because he is not waiting for a right-wing cabinet. According to him, if you want to fundamentally change something, you have to join forces. “We will only govern if we can make a difference on crucial topics,” MP Corinne Ellemeet made clear to the members.

Risk

Among the more than two hundred attendees, there was little criticism. There is, however, a fear that the identity of the party may be lost. “Collaboration does not take away your individuality,” said Klaver. The party is taking a risk, he admits. But “only if we work together can we change the Netherlands.”

According to Klaver, the formation is “stuck.” And according to him, that is only due to the VVD and CDA, which continue to exclude negotiations with two left-wing parties. “It’s cynical.” According to Ellemeet, confidant of Klaver, the right-wing parties refuse to step over their shadow. She spoke of the “arrogance of the right.”

“I would not have believed in it at the old school PvdA”

In the past, cooperation between the two parties was often discussed. According to Klaver, something has now changed among the social democrats that makes it possible. The PvdA also feels there is a will to change the system. “I would not have believed in it at the old school PvdA.”

To emphasize the close ties, PvdA MP Gijs van Dijk was also present in Utrecht. He made a fervent plea for cooperation. “This is the time.” His party will meet this day in Zeist to discuss the developments surrounding the formation. There seems to be less consensus in the PvdA about the plans with GL.

No other scenario than working together

Klaver said he is confident that there will also be support from the members of the PvdA. When asked what will happen if the PvdA members whistle back to party leader Lilianne Ploumen, he does not want to answer. “I have no other scenario in my head than cooperation.”

Even if GL and PvdA do not come together in a cabinet, the chosen path will be continued. In the opposition, joining forces is just as important, says the GL leader. “It will then be a very, very tough opposition,” he promised.

Ploumen: not participating is letting the right take its course

PvdA leader Lilianne Ploumen believes that her party, together with GL, should try to get to the formation table. The alternative is that the right-wing parties “can do their thing,” she warns. “Then the champagne is uncorked in the boardrooms and ordinary people are left empty-handed again.”

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