THE HAGUE – Negotiators from D66, VVD and CDA have reached agreement on the main outlines of a coalition deal, party leaders confirmed on Tuesday. D66 leader Rob Jetten announced the breakthrough alongside VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz and CDA leader Henri Bontenbal.
“We have reached an agreement together,” Jetten said, noting that only minor details still need to be finalized. According to the three leaders, those remaining points are not expected to derail the deal.
The coalition agreement, which will include detailed policy and budgetary commitments, is scheduled to be presented on Friday. At that point, it will become clear in which areas the parties intend to increase spending and where they plan to scale back. The leaders said the agreement reflects “clear choices,” while leaving the door open to cooperation with other parties in parliament.
While specifics were limited, the parties confirmed that substantial investments will be made in defense and in domestic priorities. Jetten said particular care was taken to balance the overall financial framework, stressing that the coalition aimed to avoid shifting debt burdens onto future generations. Yeşilgöz also described the financial arrangements as “strong agreements.”
With the main hurdle now cleared, the three parties will present the draft agreement to their parliamentary groups later this week, likely on Wednesday or Thursday. If approved, the minority cabinet in formation will formally unveil the coalition accord on Friday.
The next phase will then begin: selecting ministers and state secretaries. The House of Representatives is expected to appoint a formateur next week, a role traditionally assigned to the leader of the largest coalition party. In this case, Rob Jetten is the intended candidate for that position.
The party leaders declined to comment on how ministerial posts will be divided or who will fill them. Yeşilgöz said that decisions on personnel will follow only after the agreement is finalized and approved by parliament.
According to the negotiators, the new cabinet could potentially be sworn in by the king on Monday, February 23, a date tentatively penciled into their schedules. Jetten emphasized, however, that the process would proceed step by step.
CDA leader Bontenbal has already indicated that he does not seek a cabinet position and intends to remain parliamentary group leader. It remains unclear whether Yeşilgöz will return to a ministerial role; she previously served as minister of Justice and Security before becoming VVD parliamentary leader.