More than two weeks after the provincial elections, possible coalitions are slowly emerging in the twelve provinces. The various scouts are busy conducting discussions and writing advice. In South Holland, Zeeland and Friesland they are already out. It must be strange there if the BBB does not join the board.
The scouts have now set to work everywhere. Their task is to find out which coalitions are the best feasible options.
As is known, the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) has become the largest party in all provinces, but that does not necessarily mean that the party will also govern everywhere. Although this is obvious in almost all provinces.
In Zeeland, South Holland and Friesland, the scouts are already ready and have given advice. In all three provinces, the BBB is part of the proposed coalition. “The profit of newcomer BBB deserves respect and is a signal from the voter”, writes scout Gerard Rabelink (Zeeland).
There is one in Zeeland cooperation of BBB, SGP, CDA and VVD is obvious. Together they have 23 of the 39 seats. According to Rabelink, the differences between these parties can be bridged. That does mean that the PvdA will not return to the Zeeland administration.
Two coalitions are conceivable in South Holland, writes explorer Fred Teeven in his advice. He prefers a coalition of BBB, VVD, GroenLinks, PvdA and CDA. Although a right-wing cooperation between BBB, VVD, CDA, JA21, PVV and SGP can also be investigated.
No support for strict nitrogen policy in Friesland
Explorer Chris Stoffer has established that six parties in Friesland fit together in terms of content. “BBB and CDA in particular are close to each other. That is why that combination was chosen as the basis in the second round,” he writes in his advice. The BBB has subsequently indicated that they want the PvdA and ChristenUnie to join. According to Stoffer, the differences are “bridgeable”.
Remarkably enough, Stoffer – he is also a Member of Parliament for the SGP – also makes an appeal to national politics in his report. “I call on politicians in The Hague not to put a Frisian administration in an impossible trap by sticking to previously formulated nitrogen targets in 2030 and
forced expropriation of agricultural holdings. There is no support for it from almost all parties in the Provincial Council.”
There is a good chance that these points will also be explicitly included in the coalition agreement. BBB leader Caroline van der Plas also indicated shortly after the elections that these are breaking points for her party.
Uncertain whether BBB will be included in North Holland and Utrecht colleges
In the other ten provinces, the scouts are still busy with their work. In Drenthe and Overijssel it does not seem to be a tough job. The BBB has won such a big victory there that it doesn’t take many parties to form a majority coalition. With the VVD and the CDA they can probably work it out in both provinces.
In other provinces it becomes a bit more puzzling. In Utrecht and Noord-Holland it is even uncertain whether the BBB will join the board. Explorer Danny de Vries has admitted this week that it is not going smoothly, writes RTV Utrecht. In Utrecht, the BBB has just become the largest party, but GroenLinks has the same number of seats. That party can also form a coalition without the BBB.
The same story seems to be going on in North Holland. There, scout Ankie Broekers-Knol will talk further with the four largest parties in the coming days: BBB, VVD, GroenLinks and PvdA. A coalition without the BBB is also an obvious option there.
Sealed coalition agreement not popular
So-called interpretation debates have recently been held in various provinces. The newly elected Members of Parliament met to discuss the election results.
Some list tractors immediately expressed their preferences. For example, it turned out that the many BBB’ers are not a fan of boarded-up coalition agreements. They would prefer to conclude an agreement in outline, so that the opposition has more room. The party also thinks it is a good idea to review the agreements after two years of administration.
The scouts want to come up with their advice around Easter. Then informateurs will be appointed who will lead the negotiations between the parties in the coming months. The hope is that a coalition agreement will be signed in all provinces before the summer.
