How minority governments could benefit the Netherlands
PhD defence image: tweedekamer.nl
Minority governments only become an option when attempts to form a government collapse. PhD candidate Corné Smit explored why such governments have become rare in the Netherlands and what advantages they might offer. ‘Broad majority coalitions often fail to make substantial progress on key issues.’
In a minority government, the parties providing ministers do not hold a majority in the House of Representatives. This option has regularly been considered in recent years when efforts to form a majority government have stalled, but the Netherlands has maintained a tradition of majority governments for around 80 years. ‘The formation process is built on the assumption that a majority government will be formed’, says Smit.
Politicians prefer to exert influence ‘up front’, Smit explains. ‘That is primarily through the coalition agreement. To ensure the government implements this agreement, a majority in the House is required.’ Without a majority, the coalition parties cannot enforce the agreement, reinforcing the belief that influence is only possible through a majority government.
‘If you want influence, you have to be in the cabinet. If you’re not, you want it to fall.’
The opposition in the Netherlands has limited options to shape policy. ‘If you want influence, you have to be in the cabinet’, says Smit. ‘If you’re not, you want it to fall.’ This dynamic is a key factor behind the preference for majority coalitions. Minority governments are vulnerable to motions of no confidence. ‘Minority governments are seen as unstable in the Netherlands.’ Despite these concerns, Smit sees potential in such governments.
Advantages of minority governments
Smit points to successful examples in Scandinavia and Spain, where minority governments can tackle major challenges more decisively because they can work with different majorities. ‘You could reach an agreement with one group of parties on nitrogen policy, for example, and with another on support for Ukraine.’ In contrast, broad centrist coalitions often stall for years on key issues because of disagreements between the coalition parties.
Extremist parties
Another benefit is that a minority government enables centrist parties to stick more closely to their manifestos. ‘To form a majority at present, all centrist parties must join the government. If voters become dissatisfied with government policy, they tend to drift toward the political extremes.’ Minority governments allow centrist parties to oppose specific policies, Smit explains. ‘This makes it easier for them to maintain their identity, preventing voters from gravitating to extremist parties.’
Making minority governments work
So there are advantages to minority governments, but how could they be made viable in the Netherlands? Smit looked to Denmark, which has a long tradition of minority governments.
‘Opposition parties there have greater influence on government policy. This makes it more acceptable for parties to be in opposition and makes them less likely to vote down a minority government.’ Denmark’s constitution allows opposition parties to delay controversial bills with a one-third minority and to force referendums. This compels the government to talk to the opposition.
Denmark also uses policy agreements on specific topics that extend beyond a single government term. These are signed by opposition parties, which gives them both a voice and veto power, and makes it easier for them to accept that they are or will at some point be in the opposition.
To make minority governments more appealing in the Netherlands, a ‘constructive motion of no confidence’ could be introduced. This would require the House to propose an alternative government before dismissing a current one. ‘That would force opposition parties to be more constructive.’
Another option would be to lower the threshold for approving a cabinet. At present, a majority vote is needed to appoint a formateur. ‘That’s actually a kind of vote of confidence that hinders the formation of a minority government’, says Smit. He proposes introducing the Swedish model, where a government is accepted unless a majority explicitly votes against it.
A new government
Smit does not expect the upcoming elections in the Netherlands to result in a minority government. ‘There is a structural element in our political system that makes it difficult to break the norm of majority governments. In the longer term, it would be a good idea to alter our political system to facilitate minority governments.’ That would take political change and constitutional reform, he says. Only then would minority governments be a realistic alternative.