D66‘s Jetten & CDA’sโ Bontenbal Aim for “Surprising Agenda” as Formation Talks Enterโ Second week
The initial week of formation โคtalks between โฃD66โฃ leader Rob Jetten and CDA leader Henriโ Bontenbal has concluded with the pair focused on drafting a foundational document outlining potential solutions toโค key issues, withโ a targetโข completion date of two weeks.Jetten expressed a desire for the document to move beyond discussion and facilitate โค”decisions” regarding major challenges facing the Netherlands.
This collaborative effort comes amid โongoing political uncertainty following recent elections,โค and represents โฃan attemptโ to proactively shape the agenda โfor a new governing coalition. The success of this initiative could significantly influence the direction of Dutch policy, potentially streamlining negotiations with othre parties and โขaccelerating the formation of a newโข cabinet – a process currently without โa โfirm timeline.
Bontenbal and Jetten are scheduled to begin exploratory conversationsโ with โคother political parties next week,โ thoughโข these meetings areโค being characterized as preliminary discussions rather than formal negotiations.Former CDA leader Wouter Buma described the upcoming talks as an prospect โtoโ “feel out” โคthe positions of other parties andโข identify potential areas for collaboration.
A potential hurdle lies in the possibility of the joint documentโข being perceived as a pre-agreement between D66 and CDA, potentially โฃdiscouragingโ participation from โฃother key players like the VVD, GroenLinks-PvdA, and JA21.Concerns exist that these parties may be reluctant toโค endorse aโฃ pre-defined framework.
Jetten acknowledged that formal negotiations will resumeโค after December 9th, but voiced hope that the “surprising agenda” theyโ are developing will garner broad support. The pair will address โbudgetary considerations and โฃfunding mechanisms for proposed solutions during a meetingโฃ on Monday, followed by further expert consultations and continued drafting on Tuesday. Despite the progress,a definitive timeline for the formation of aโ new government remains elusive.
