Minority cabinet in the Netherlands: opportunity or risk?
In the media
In daily political programme ‘Dit is de Dag’ (NPO Radio), constitutional law experts Corné Smit and Wim Voermans discussed the question of whether a minority cabinet in the Netherlands is a viable prospect: stability is key.
According to Smit, who obtained his doctorate on the subject of minority cabinets, this type of cabinet in the Netherlands deserves a serious chance. He sees advantages in flexibility: support can be sought per subject, sometimes on the left and sometimes on the right. 'The threshold for forming a compromise is lower with a minority cabinet,' says Smit.
He does emphasise, however, that such a cabinet can only function with ‘constructive opposition’. He points to Denmark, where opposition parties are involved in policy at an early stage and sometimes function as 'a kind of part-time coalition party'. According to Smit, this form of cooperation provides stability and that stability ensures that everyone actually wants to participate. ‘So, it’s not insurmountable.’
Smit is nuanced about the mandate of ministers in a minority cabinet, when a decision has to be made quickly – in response to recent statements by Rob Jetten and Jesse Klaver in Nieuwsuur. 'In some emergency situations, action has to be taken quickly,' he says, with a minister accountable to the House afterwards.
Voermans is not against a minority cabinet in principle, but points to the risks in the Dutch context. Unlike Denmark, we have no stable left-right division and electoral tolerance for backbench support. 'With the fragmented political landscape and a gap of ten seats, it’s difficult to achieve a solid minority cabinet,' says Voermans. With major decisions looming, such as the Spring Memorandum, he see a real risk of such a cabinet failing. He is not against a minority cabinet as such – something many people have been accusing him of lately: 'Saying that when night frost comes, your outdoor tap might freeze doesn’t mean you’re against the frost itself.'
According to Voermans, if you opt for a minority cabinet with such a narrow base, clear shadow agreements are needed, comparable to the period of the Den Uyl cabinet. You cannot blame parliament for the instability of a minority cabinet. And reducing parliamentary influence by acting more independently and through emergency measures as a cabinet also makes no sense and will not work. 'It comes down to the fact that we simply have a parliamentary system, where parliament is in charge and has the last word. With the current fragmentation, majorities will have to be sought that won't be easy to find. You’ll have to seek consensus, polderen, and that takes time'. Still, Voermans praises the Dutch age-old governing consultation culture: 'Poldering is inclusive governance. It takes time, but we’re very good at it.'
More information?
Listen to the radio broadcast Dit is de dag (NPO) (in Dutch)