Dutch parties seek coalition deal

Leaders of three Dutch centre-right parties sought internal endorsement today for a minority government with Christian Democrat…

Leaders of three Dutch centre-right parties sought internal endorsement today for a minority government with Christian Democrat unease over support by an anti-Islam party casting a shadow over the deal.

The party leaders emerged from 111 days of talks yesterday evening saying they had concluded an agreement to form a minority government, the first since 1939 in The Netherlands, of the VVD liberals party and the CDA Christian Democrats.

There is also a side agreement on support in parliament by the PVV party of populist politician Geert Wilders, who wants to ban the Koran and stop Muslim immigration and who lives under constant police protection.

There is not much clarity on the concessions VVD and CDA had to make for the PVV support but there are indications of drastic cuts on spending on the integration of immigrants, part of a new wave of anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe.

READ MORE

Mr Wilders, who has compared the Koran to Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf, is on trial on charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims. The case will resume Monday.

"There will be a historic policy, which will be very different on various matters," he said today.

The party leaders kept details of the agreements under wraps pending discussions by the parliamentary fractions today, and an official presentation tomorrow.

The CDA was formed out of three main-stream religious parties and ethical issues often pay a larger role than left-right divisions on economic or social policies. Some of its members fear cooperation with PVV will further divide multi-cultural Dutch society instead of bridging rifts.

Reuters