Jetten seeks renewed Dutch influence abroad
In the media image: Vladisvla Klapin on Unsplash
The likely new Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten wants to have more influence abroad. However, his minority cabinet brings challenges with international decisions, says Corné Smit, guest lecturer in constitutional and administrative law, on the NOS news site.
The international position of the Netherlands has weakened in recent years under outgoing prime minister Dick Schoof. D66 leader Rob Jetten now wants to change that by claiming 'a leading voice' for our country on important European and global issues.
Smit warns, however, that Jetten's minority cabinet means he has less clout: 'In the case of international treaties, the prime minister must first submit them to parliament, and even without that obligation, the House can intervene with a motion.' In practice, this means that a prime minister or minister must almost always have a majority of parliamentary support on the international stage or must be able to obtain that support afterwards.
'It’s important that the cabinet – like the Danish model – seeks early liaison with opposition groups, an approach that’s necessary to take international steps without a broad majority behind it,' says Smit.