Politics and Elections in the Netherlands: coalition agreement presented

[jeron]

Option 5 is much more likely than option 3 or option 4. Option 2 will be tried, but will fail within less than a month, There will huge pressure on PvdA to start talks afterwards and they eventually budge. After that Asscher can make the case that everything has been tried and for the sake of the country etc.

5 is a bit of a wildcard, I'll give you that. It could happen all of a sudden. But I really doubt it. They say they chose for the country's interest in 2012 and will now choose for the party's interest. Governing again, with VVD-CDA-D66 of all parties, would be so incredibly damaging that I'm inclined to believe Asscher (though I know that's dangerous with a PvdA politician) and just really don't expect it to happen.

It doesn't seem like it will happen, but who knows. A CDA/VVD minority government is even more unlikely, because who would support it? The left surely wouldn't, neither would D66 or Denk. VVD and CDA have said they will not work with PVV. That leaves SGP, CU, 50plus and FvD. No majority there (64 seats). In other words, a VVD-CDA minority government would inevitably lead to elections quite soon.

[jeron]

In the meantime, CU leader Segers said that would not accept an invitation for coalition talks right now. He would advise Tjeenk Willink to arrange talks with PvdA or to let PvdA leader Asscher explain on what grounds/issues PvdA doesn't want to negtiate with VVD-CDA-D66. Only after that would CU be willing to negotiate.

[jeron]

Much ado about nothing in Utrecht, the fourth city of the country with a population of about 350k, where a proposal by the PvdD that 50% of the snacks at municipal events be vegetarian or vegan unexpectedly received a 23-22 majority with GL and D66 support. This received quite some national media attention as the local VVD kept droning on about their opposition to this "anti-liberal" motion and even called for an emergency debate to introduce a new motion that would retract the PvdD initiative. This VVD proposal was supported by no other parties and received much scorn by other parties, who blame the VVD for creating the impression that politicians in Utrecht only bother to talk about the snacks they consume.
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Why would D66 support it? Doesn't such a measure (forcing food trucks at some event to serve certain food) actually go against liberalism (like the VVD apparently said).

You're right. It's a crazy and ridiculous proposal. The fact that a party that claimes to be liberal supports it, makes it even crazier. For days the  political debate in Utrecht focussed on the question wether we should eat beef or broccoli at a municipal event that nobody ever goes to anyway. You can't make this up.

I think what's more absurd is that people think adding vegeterian options to menu's is somehow a betrayal of liberal principles.

Exactly. The PvdD proposal only means that 50% of the snacks are vegetarian. That means everyone can still eat meat if they so desire and the vegetarians can have their vegetarian snack. The only ridiculous proposal is the VVD proposal.

[jeron]

How did that CU-SGP divergence take place? CU's predecessor parties don't seem that different from the SGP. I.e. they were affiliated with very conservative Reformed churches.

RPF and GPV were indeed linked to orthodox Reformed churches. After the merger of RPF and GPV, CU gradually became less conservative in order to appeal to members of pentecostal and baptist churches.

[jeron]

Great that elected mayors are finally a thing. Will it be indirect through majorities in council (hopefully) or presidential contests? Also quite happy to see the referendum law go; really hate this "collect signatures online, get referendum".

The first is already the case. Officially mayors are appointed by the King based on a suggestion of the King's Commissioner in a province, but in practice municipal councils nowadays vote on it on secret ballot (we usually don't even know which other candidates applied and lost) and the King's Commissioner will simply pick the one approved by the municipal council. The proposed change is that the Constitution will no longer include an article on the appointment of mayors by the King, leaving open the possibility to elect them directly, which is what D66 wants. But this can only happen if a qualified majority in parliament supports the process: 76 seats is not enough. And for the constitutional revision to take place, a simple majority in the next parliament should support it too in order fo the change to come into effect.

D66 already initiated a proposal during the previous parliamentary period, which was approved by both chambers. If parliament approves it with a qualified majority now, it becomes law and the changes take effect.