Dutch poll leader shows openness to right-wing minority coalition

Breaking his silence on his coalition preferences for the first time, New Social Contract (NSC) leader and poll leader Pieter Omtzigt said on Monday that a minority coalition of right-wing parties was an attractive option for him but remained tight-lipped on whether he would take on the role of prime minister himself.

NSC burst onto the scene back in August, quickly grabbing the lead in national polls for the upcoming elections. Given its leading position in the polls, the party is likely to play a kingmaker role during the upcoming coalition negotiations, as virtually all other parties are open to cooperation with the anti-establishment newcomer.

“A centre-right minority cabinet is certainly a possibility,” Omtzigt stated during a panel discussion at the University of Twente in his hometown of Enschede.

Along with his NSC, he named outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s VVD (Renew), his own former party CDA, farmer party BBB, the Christian fundamentalist SGP (ECR) and far-right JA21 (ECR) as potential coalition partners he could imagine following the elections, while adding that he will keep his options open in this regard.

Omtzigt had previously advocated for a minority coalition to take the reins following the upcoming elections, pointing towards the fragmented landscape of Dutch politics as well as the stronger position the House of Representatives would gain in such a scenario.

While the far-right PVV (ID) under Geert Wilders, which is currently polling in fourth place, could facilitate NSC’s path towards a centre-right coalition, Omtzigt has repeatedly stated that he is unwilling to enter a coalition with the party, as it strays too far from the rule of law principle according to the lawmaker.

Left-wing MPs, especially those belonging to the joint list of the Labour (PvdA/S&D) and Green (GL/Greens/EFA) parties, expressed their disappointment with Omtzigt’s stated preference.

“Unclear yesterday in the [election] debate, clear today: Omtzigt prefers to go via the right. Another cabinet with the VVD. So much for the new government culture. Then we will get nowhere on the issues of livelihood security and climate,” GL lawmaker Jesse Klaver bemoaned on X.

The disappointment comes as the joint list’s lead candidate, former EU climate tsar Frans Timmermans, had visibly flirted with a potential coalition including the NSC during the most recent election debates, even going as far as putting into question the country’s 2030 deadline to cut nitrogen emissions in half – a key point in the alliance’s election programme.

While most elements of NSC’s election campaign are clear by now – the party finally published its election program last month after presenting its candidate list back in late September – Omtzigt still plays his cards close to his chest regarding whether he himself would assume the role of prime minister after the elections.

After previously indicating that a role as MP would be most suitable to serve his political agenda and interests, Omtzigt recently stated that he does not rule out the position of prime minister just yet. However, he touched upon the strain the job takes, asking: “Is the position of prime minister still performable by a father of a family living in Enschede?”, alluding to the city’s peripheral location within the country.

The Dutch elections are set to take place on 22 November.

(Benedikt Stöckl | Euractiv.com)